J Lab Med Qual Assur.  2015 Mar;37(1):1-11. 10.15263/jlmqa.2015.37.1.1.

Annual Report on the External Quality Assessment Scheme for Diagnostic Hematology in Korea (2014)

• Kwon GC
• Kim J
• Ra GS
• Diagnostic Hematology Subcommittee, The Korean Association of Quality Assurance for Clinical Laboratory

• KMID: 1789357
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15263/jlmqa.2015.37.1.1

Abstract

During 2014, the Diagnostic Hematology Subcommittee of the Korean Association of Quality Assurance for Clinical Laboratories performed laboratory proficiency testing for blood cell count, cell morphology, and coagulation tests. Four trials for blood cell count and cell morphology tests and 2 trials for coagulation tests were performed. The trials for blood cell counts had a reply rate of 96.8% among 1,343 laboratories, compared to 99.3% among 489 laboratories for cell morphology and 98.6% among 565 laboratories for coagulation tests. The homogeneity of the external quality materials was stable (<3%), and the use of instruments and reagents was similar to that observed during the previous year. The CVs for white blood cell counts, red blood cell counts, platelet counts, hemoglobin tests, and hematocrit tests were 4.46%, 2.12%, 2.21%, 5.08%, and 8.31%, respectively. For cell morphology tests, concordant rates were >80% for most of the participating laboratories. The CVs for the coagulation tests varied according to the specific instruments or reagents that were used. An educational workshop was held in July to provide hands-on experience in diagnostic hematology. During 2014, the number of participating laboratories was increased, while the performance of hematology tests was similar to that observed in the previous year.

Keyword

Laboratory proficiency testing; Blood cell count; Peripheral blood smear; Prothrombin time; Partial thromboplastin time

MeSH Terms

Blood Cell Count
Education
Erythrocyte Count
Hematocrit
Hematology*
Indicators and Reagents
Korea
Laboratory Proficiency Testing
Leukocyte Count
Partial Thromboplastin Time
Platelet Count
Prothrombin Time
Indicators and Reagents