HbA1c: EQA in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands using fresh whole blood samples with target values assigned with the IFCC reference system

Author(s):  
Patricia Kaiser ◽  
Michael Spannagl ◽  
Christel van Campenhout ◽  
Yolande Lenga ◽  
Carla Siebelder ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground:External quality assessment/proficiency test (EQA/PT) organizers play an important role in monitoring the performance of HbAMethods:Throughout 2015, ten fresh whole blood samples were supplied to the participants. Aggregated results were evaluated according to the IFCC model for quality targets at four levels: overall, per country, per manufacturer, and per country per manufacturer.Results:Robust results in summer and winter demonstrated the feasibility of organizing an EQA with fresh whole blood samples in three countries. The overall performances, as well as the performance for each country were very similar: results fell within the IFCC criteria. Although substantial differences between results from different manufacturers were present, the performances of laboratories using tests of the same manufacturer were strikingly similar in the three countries, suggesting that the quality of HbA

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 278-286
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Ćwiklińska ◽  
Barbara Kortas-Stempak ◽  
Maciej Jankowski ◽  
Gabriela Bednarczuk ◽  
Aleksandra Fijałkowska ◽  
...  

Introduction: Urine particle analysis is an important diagnostic tool. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of urine leukocyte (WBC) and erythrocyte (RBC) counting results obtained with manual and automated methods in Polish laboratories participating in the international external quality assessment (EQA) programme. Materials and methods: 1400 WBC and RBC counting results were obtained from 183 laboratories in EQA surveys organised by Labquality (Helsinki, Finland) from 2017 to 2019. The between-laboratory coefficient of variation (CV), the percentage difference between the laboratories' results and target values (Q-score (%)), as well as modified Youden plots were analysed. Results: For automated method groups, the medians of inter-laboratory CVs varied from 14% to 33% for WBC counting and from 10% to 39% for RBC counting. For manual method groups, the medians of CV varied from 53% to 71% (WBC) and from 55% to 70% (RBC), and they were significantly higher, in comparison to CVs for most automated method groups (P < 0.001). The highest percentage of results outside the target limits (36%) and the highest range of Q-score (%) (from - 93% to 706%) were observed for laboratories which participated in the surveys for the first or second time. The percentage of deviating results and the ranges of Q-score decreased with an increased frequency of laboratories’ participation in the surveys. Conclusions: The quality of manual methods of urine WBC and RBC counting is unsatisfactory. There is an urgent need to take actions to improve laboratories’ performance and to increase harmonisation of the results.


2005 ◽  
Vol 51 (9) ◽  
pp. 1632-1636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunn BB Kristensen ◽  
Nina Gade Christensen ◽  
Geir Thue ◽  
Sverre Sandberg

Abstract Background: External quality assessment schemes (EQAS) are conducted to evaluate user performance (participant assessment) and to assess different methods and instruments (method assessment). The quality of control materials is crucial to achieving these goals. Inconsistencies in between-lot variations detected by use of different control and sample materials may affect EQAS outcomes. Methods: For the Accu-Chek Sensor, Precision Xtra, Ascensia Elite, and HemoCue 201 glucometers, 3 different lots of glucose strips were used with each instrument. Method assessment results from analysis of capillary blood and 3 control materials were used to calculate between-lot differences. A simulation study was performed to evaluate the effect of between-lot variation on participant assessment results. Results: With the Precision Xtra, the results obtained with EQA control material mirrored those obtained with capillary blood, but for the other instruments, we found between-lot differences of as much as 1.3 mmol/L, which were substantially greater than those found with capillary blood and of clinical importance at decision limits. The simulation study showed an effect on participant assessment results related to the target values, with the percentage of poor results decreasing (38%, 10%, and 4%) with the use of common, method-specific, and lot-specific target values, respectively. Conclusions: Between-lot variation may influence participant EQA results for participant and method assessments. The clinical relevance of between-lot variation discovered in EQAS using noncommutable control materials should be examined by use of native blood samples.


2010 ◽  
Vol 41 (02) ◽  
Author(s):  
N Shazi ◽  
A Böss ◽  
HJ Merkel ◽  
F Scharbert ◽  
D Hannak ◽  
...  

Separations ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 78
Author(s):  
Sevasti Karampela ◽  
Jessica Smith ◽  
Irene Panderi

An ever-increasing need exists within the forensic laboratories to develop analytical processes for the qualitative and quantitative determination of a broad spectrum of new psychoactive substances. Phenylethylamine derivatives are among the major classes of psychoactive substances available on the global market and include both amphetamine analogues and synthetic cathinones. In this work, an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-positive ion electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric method (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS) has been developed and fully validated for the determination of 19 psychoactive substances, including nine amphetamine-type stimulants and 10 synthetic cathinone derivatives, in premortem and postmortem whole blood. The assay was based on the use of 1 mL premortem or postmortem whole blood, following solid phase extraction prior to the analysis. The separation was achieved on a Poroshell 120 EC-C18 analytical column with a gradient mobile phase of 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid in water in 9 min. The dynamic multiple reaction monitoring used in this work allowed for limit of detection (LOD) and lower limit of quantitation (LOQ) values of 0.5 and 2 ng mL−1, respectively, for all analytes both in premortem and postmortem whole blood samples. A quadratic calibration model was used for the 12 quantitative analytes over the concentration range of 20–2000 ng mL−1, and the method was shown to be precise and accurate both in premortem and postmortem whole blood. The method was applied to the analysis of real cases and proved to be a valuable tool in forensic and clinical toxicology.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 100311
Author(s):  
Daniella C. Terenzi ◽  
Ehab Bakbak ◽  
Justin Z. Trac ◽  
Mohammad Al-Omran ◽  
Adrian Quan ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Polina A. Dyachenko Timoshina ◽  
Leonid E. Dolotov ◽  
Ekaterina N. Lazareva ◽  
Anastasiia A. Kozlova ◽  
Olga A. Inozemtseva ◽  
...  

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