J Lab Med Qual Assur.  2016 Mar;38(1):1-10. 10.15263/jlmqa.2016.38.1.1.

Annual Report on the External Quality Assessment for Diagnostic Hematology in Korea (2015)

• Kwon GC
• Kim J
• Ra GS
• Diagnostic Hematology Subcommittee
• Korean Association of External Quality Assessment Service

• KMID: 2162118
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15263/jlmqa.2016.38.1.1

Abstract

During 2015, the Diagnostic Hematology Subcommittee of Korean Association of External Quality Assessment Service performed laboratory proficiency testing for blood cell count, cell morphology, and coagulation tests. Four trials for blood cell count and cell morphology tests each and two trials for coagulation tests were performed. The trials for blood cell counts had a reply rate of 97.2% among 1,352 laboratories, compared to 99.0% among 503 laboratories for cell morphology and 98.6% among 574 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 coefficients of variation (CVs) for white blood cell counts, red blood cell counts, platelet counts, hemoglobin tests, and hematocrit tests were 4.13%, 1.89%, 1.92%, 5.02%, and 8.10%, 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 November to provide hands-on experience in diagnostic hematology. During 2015, the number of participating laboratories increased, while the performance of hematology tests was similar to that observed in the previous year.

Keyword

Laboratory proficiency testing; Blood cell count; Blood cell morphology; 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