Lab Med Qual Assur.  2021 Jun;43(2):43-55. 10.15263/jlmqa.2021.43.2.43.

Report of the Korean Association of External Quality Assessment Service on Glucose Point-ofCare Testing (2018–2019)

• Lim J
• Kwon GC

• KMID: 2517258
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15263/jlmqa.2021.43.2.43

Abstract

In the 2018 and 2019 glucose analysis by point-of-care testing, an external quality assessment was performed in two sessions. Quality control (QC) materials available on the market were used in these programs, and three levels of concentration were used during each session. Based on the data and results of the test items reported by each institution, statistical analyses were conducted by the manufacturers and with a test analyzer. From the analysis results, each institution was provided with an overall report and an institution-tailored report. The average response rate was 98.8%. After the number of instruments that could be registered by an institution increased to 30 in 2017, the number of participating institutions spiked to 3,808 during the second round in 2019. The coefficients of variation (CVs) differed among the manufacturers and among different instruments from the same manufacturer, and such differences were comparatively greater than the CV of glucose of the routine chemistry program. Due to the fact that the commutability of the QC materials used for this program is not secured between different instruments as well as between test strips with different lot numbers within the same instrument, it is deemed necessary to obtain lot numbers when inputting institution results.

Keyword

Laboratory proficiency testing; Quality assurance; Glucose; Glucometer; Point-of-care testing