Evaluation of four quality indicators of the Pre-Analytical Phase External Quality Assessment Subprogram of the Fundación Bioquímica Argentina

Pre-analytical phase external quality assessment programs contribute - through the interlaboratory comparison of quality indicators (QIs) - to the continuous improvement of the clinical laboratory total testing process. The purpose of the present work is to document the results derived from measuring four QIs within the framework of a pre-analytical phase external quality assessment subprogram in Argentina. The laboratories participating in this subprogram measured the following QIs: i) patients recalled for a new blood sample collection due to pre-analytical causes; ii) clotted samples from hemogram and coagulation tests; iii) clinical chemistry hemolyzed samples; and iv) requests with transcription errors entered into the laboratory information system. Results were expressed in percentage value and Sigma value. Databases were anonymized. A minimum acceptable quality level for the four QIs measured was recorded in the majority (75%) of the participating laboratories (Sigma > 3.0). It was nonetheless observed that the QIs of hemolyzed samples and requests with transcription errors entered into the laboratory information system deserve more attention. Through this pioneering experience in Argentina, the participating laboratories - some for the first time - could learn about their performance via interlaboratory comparison of results. This experience also proved to be motivating not only to improve the external assessment subprogram but also to continue working on the measurement of pre-analytical QIs for the continuous improvement of the clinical laboratory total testing process in Argentina.