Application of sigma-based quality control rules for the efficiency of internal quality control.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ensuring stability in medical laboratories through quality control (QC) is crucial and requires fitted rules to prevent false alerts and identify errors. This study demonstrates how the introduction of new QC rules to align with individual total allowable error (TEa) affects laboratory efficiency and error detection.

Methods

Changes in the performance of 26 biochemical tests before and after applying new internal quality control (IQC) rules were studied. Pre-Phase utilized uniform QC rules (1-3s, 2-2s, 2/3-2s, R-4s, 4-1s, and 12-x) while Post-Phase adopted new QC rules selected using Westgard Adviser (Bio-Rad Inc., USA). Sigma metrics were calculated using TEa and precision and bias from IQC data, compared to the peer group. Efficiency was assessed by comparing QC

SUBMITTER: Choi H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12446610 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature