The establishment and first 7 years' operation of an external quality assessment scheme for clinical chemistry in the Middle East region are described. The scheme utilises specimens distributed previously in the UK, and the performance of participating laboratories is assessed relative to the UK consensus values, taking account of method. Variance Index scoring has been used to quantitate performance, and there has been an improvement in average scores during the operation of the scheme. There are currently 88 participants, though some laboratories which failed to return results regularly were removed from the scheme. The consensus values from the scheme itself have now been validated, and in future the scheme should operate independently.
References
1.
External quality assessment of health laboratories.Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe, 1981.
WhiteheadTP. Quality Control in Clinical Chemistry.New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1977.
4.
WhiteheadTPWoodfordFP. External quality assessment of clinical laboratories in the United Kingdom. J Clin Pathol1981; 34: 947–57.
5.
BacchusRAChangPCBullockDGWhiteheadTP. The organization and evolution of the Middle East external quality assessment scheme in clinical chemistry. In: Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Quality Control Osaka June 1981, International Congress Series no 585. Amsterdam: Excerpta Medica, 1982; 260–9.
6.
WhiteheadTPBrowningDMGregoryA. A comparative survey of the results of analyses of blood serum in clinical chemistry laboratories in the United Kingdom. J Clin Pathol1973; 26: 435–45.
7.
BullockDGWildeCE. External quality assessment of urinary pregnancy oestrogen assay: further experience in the United Kingdom. Ann Clin Biochem1985; 22: 273–82.
8.
BullockDGSmithNJWhiteheadTP. External quality assessment of assays of lead in blood. Clin Chem1986; 32: 1884–9.
9.
HunterWMMcKenzieI. Quality control of radioimmunoassays for proteins. Ann Clin Biochem1979; 16: 131–46.
10.
JansenAPvan KampenEJLeijnseBExperience in the Netherlands with an external quality control and scoring system for clinical chemistry laboratories. Clin Chim Acta1977; 74: 191–201.
11.
BrowningDM. The role and activities of the National Quality Assurance Advisory Panel in clinical chemistry. In: FarrAD, ed. Quality assurance and control in clinical laboratories.London: Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences, 1984; 93–7.
