The impact of QC frequency on patient results.
The expected number of unacceptable patient results due to an undetected, malfunction--E(Nu)--can be set as a patient-based quality goal. Using the number of patients tested between QC specimens as a design parameter allows one to design QC strategies that meet specified patient-based quality goals. The QC utilization rate can be minimized in a QC design for a given E(Nu). The QC-utilization rate achievable depends on how close analytical imprecision is to the total allowable error.
Yundt-Pacheco
John
J
Bio-Rad Laboratories' Quality Service Division, Plano, TX, USA.
Parvin
Curtis A
CA
D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017751:Safety Management; D014481:United States