title: Monitoring laboratory data across manufacturers and laboratories--A prerequisite to make "Big Data" work.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  "The Percentiler" project provides quasi real-time access to patient medians across laboratories and manufacturers. This data can serve as "clearinghouse" for electronic health record applications, e.g., use of laboratory data for global health-care research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants send their daily outpatient medians to the Percentiler application. After 6 to 8weeks, the laboratory receives its login information, which gives access to the user interface. Data is assessed by peer group, i.e., 10 or more laboratories using the same test system. Participation is free of charge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participation is global with, to date, >120 laboratories and >250 instruments. Up to now, several reports have been produced that address i) the general features of the project, ii) peer group observations; iii) synergisms between "The Percentiler" and dedicated external quality assessment surveys. Reasons for long-term instability and bias (calibration- or lot-effects) have been observed for the individual laboratory and manufacturers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  "The Percentiler" project has the potential to build a continuous, global evidence base on in vitro diagnostic test comparability and stability. As such, it may be beneficial for all stakeholders and, in particular, the patient. The medical laboratory is empowered for contributing to the development, implementation, and management of global health-care policies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goossens
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Katleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Uytfanghe
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Twomey
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: linda.thienpont@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Linda M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Thienpont
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Clinical Chemistry, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland.
mesh_terms: D002623:Chemistry Techniques, Analytical / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011786:Quality Control; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
keywords: Drifts; Median; Moving median; Quality indicator; Shifts; Stability of performance