The percent CCV from National External Quality Assessment of Clinical Chemistry laboratory in Thailand, 2008-2013 Experience

Abstract

       A Thailand National External Quality Assessment scheme (NEQAS) in Clinical Chemistry was organized by the Bureau of Laboratory Quality Standards, Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health. The objectives were to improve and maintain the sustainable quality monitoring leading to the international standards. The test items: 2 lyophilized samples were distributed to the participants throughout the country, 3 cycles per year. The returned reports from participants were grouped by the principle of analysis and evaluated by the system as recommended by the World Health Organization. In 2013, the NEQAS continuously performed 148 trials for 15 general chemistry tests from 960 laboratories throughout the country. From the year 2008 to 2013, the outlier results that were omitted range from 1.5% to 3.9% of participant results. The average MVIS of participating laboratories decreased from 105 to 80. The %CV of the participants and the %CCV recommended by WHO, differed from -4.0 to 2.3. The NEQAS reported the % CV of sodium = 2.4, potassium = 3.5, chloride = 3.6, glucose = 5.6, cholesterol = 5.7, total protein = 6.2, albumin = 6.5, uric acid = 6.7, blood urea nitrogen = 6.9, triglyceride = 9.0, creatinine = 9.6, alanine transminase = 10.8, aspatate transminase = 11.6, total bilirubin = 15.2 and alkaline phosphatase = 19.8. Furthermore, the %CV of 15 tests obtained during the last three years were found consistent thus indicating the improvement of participating laboratories and maintenance
of the sustainable quality in clinical chemistry.