scholarly journals Which are more correctly diagnosed: Conventional Papanicolaou smears or Thinprep samples? A comparative study of 9 years of external quality-assurance testing

2014 ◽  
Vol 123 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret C. Cummings ◽  
Louise Marquart ◽  
Anita M. Pelecanos ◽  
Gail Perkins ◽  
David Papadimos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
External Quality Assurance ◽  
External Quality ◽  
Papanicolaou Smears

The Relationship Between External Quality Assurance and the Work of Study Programme Leaders: A Comparative Study

2020 ◽  
pp. 43-56
Author(s):  
Per Olaf Aamodt ◽  
Ebbe Krogh Graversen ◽  
Elisabeth Hovdhaugen ◽  
Evanthia Kalpazidou Schmidt ◽  
Peter Maassen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
External Quality Assurance ◽  
External Quality ◽  
Study Programme ◽  
The Relationship

scholarly journals Spanish society of laboratory medicine external quality assurance programmes: evolution of the analytical performance of clinical laboratories over 30 years and comparison with other programmes

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Perich ◽  
Carmen Ricós ◽  
Fernando Marqués ◽  
Joana Minchinela ◽  
Angel Salas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Laboratory Medicine ◽  
Analytical Performance ◽  
External Quality Assurance ◽  
Biological Variability ◽  
External Quality ◽  
Spanish Society ◽  
Clinical Laboratories ◽  
Quality Specifications

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to understand the evolution of the analytical performance of the laboratories participating in the Spanish society of laboratory medicine (SEQCML) external quality assurance (EQA) programmes during its 30 years of operation and to compare it with the performance of other EQA programmes to establish whether the results are similar. The results obtained during this period are evaluated by applying the biological variability (BV) and state of the art-derived quality specifications. In addition, the results are compared with those obtained by other EQA programme organisations. It is noted that the laboratories participating in the EQA–SEQCML programmes have improved their performance over 30 years of experience and that the specifications derived from biological variation are achievable. It is difficult to compare EQA programmes, due to lack of accessibility and the differences in the design of these programmes (control materials, calculations used and analytical specifications established). The data from this study show that for some biological magnitudes the results obtained by the programmes are not yet harmonised, although efforts are being made to achieve this. Organisers of EQA programmes should also join the harmonisation effort by providing information on their results to enable comparison.

Development of an Evidence-Based Approach to External Quality Assurance for Breast Cancer Hormone Receptor Immunohistochemistry: Comparison of Reference Values

2011 ◽  
Vol 135 (7) ◽  
pp. 874-881
Author(s):  
Nikita Makretsov ◽  
C. Blake Gilks ◽  
Reza Alaghehbandan ◽  
John Garratt ◽  
Louise Quenneville ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Estrogen Receptor ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Progesterone Receptor ◽  
Reference Values ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
External Quality Assurance ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
External Quality ◽  
Test Sensitivity

Abstract Context.—External quality assurance and proficiency testing programs for breast cancer predictive biomarkers are based largely on traditional ad hoc design; at present there is no universal consensus on definition of a standard reference value for samples used in external quality assurance programs. Objective.—To explore reference values for estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor immunohistochemistry in order to develop an evidence-based analytic platform for external quality assurance. Design.—There were 31 participating laboratories, 4 of which were previously designated as “expert” laboratories. Each participant tested a tissue microarray slide with 44 breast carcinomas for estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor and submitted it to the Canadian Immunohistochemistry Quality Control Program for analysis. Nuclear staining in 1% or more of the tumor cells was a positive score. Five methods for determining reference values were compared. Results.—All reference values showed 100% agreement for estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor scores, when indeterminate results were excluded. Individual laboratory performance (agreement rates, test sensitivity, test specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and κ value) was very similar for all reference values. Identification of suboptimal performance by all methods was identical for 30 of 31 laboratories. Estrogen receptor assessment of 1 laboratory was discordant: agreement was less than 90% for 3 of 5 reference values and greater than 90% with the use of 2 other reference values. Conclusions.—Various reference values provide equivalent laboratory rating. In addition to descriptive feedback, our approach allows calculation of technical test sensitivity and specificity, positive and negative predictive values, agreement rates, and κ values to guide corrective actions.

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