If Internal Quality Control (IQC) material is not available, laboratories can still perform trend analysis of patient results using various statistical techniques and methods. Trend analysis helps monitor the consistency and accuracy of test results over time. In the absence of IQC material, laboratories can rely on patient results themselves to identify potential trends and deviations.
Here’s how you might perform trend analysis without IQC material, using a blood glucose testing example:
Example: Blood Glucose Testing
Let’s consider a medical laboratory that conducts blood glucose testing for diabetic patients. The laboratory wants to monitor the accuracy and consistency of their blood glucose test results over a period of time.
- Moving Average Analysis:
- Moving average is a statistical method used to identify trends in data by calculating the average of a certain number of recent data points.
- In this case, the laboratory could calculate the moving average of blood glucose results over a specific time period (e.g., a week or a month).
- By comparing the moving average of different time periods, the laboratory can identify if there’s a consistent increase, decrease, or stability in blood glucose levels.
- Percentage of Samples Analysis:
- For instance, if the moving average of blood glucose levels over the past month has been gradually increasing, it might indicate that patients are experiencing higher glucose levels, potentially requiring adjustment of their treatment plans.
- This analysis involves calculating the percentage of patient samples with results above or below certain values.
- The laboratory could set thresholds for normal, high, and low blood glucose levels based on clinical guidelines.
- By calculating the percentage of samples falling into each category, the laboratory can monitor any significant changes in the distribution of results.
For example, if the percentage of samples with results above the normal range consistently increases over time, it might indicate a larger trend of worsening blood glucose control among the patient population.
- Associated Diagnosis Analysis:
- The laboratory can analyze how many test results are associated with specific diagnoses, such as well-controlled diabetes, uncontrolled diabetes, or hypoglycaemia.
- By categorizing test results into diagnostic categories, the laboratory can assess changes in the prevalence of different conditions over time.
If the percentage of results associated with an uncontrolled diabetes diagnosis is rising steadily, it could indicate a need for intervention strategies to improve diabetes management among patients.
It’s important to note that while these methods can provide insights into trends, they may not directly indicate the accuracy of the testing method itself. For ensuring accuracy, comparing the laboratory’s results to an external reference method or collaborating with other laboratories for cross-validation might be beneficial
Without IQC material, the laboratory would primarily rely on patient data for trend analysis. However, incorporating IQC materials when available remains a valuable practice for quality control, as it provides a separate control to verify the accuracy of the testing process.
About the author
Dr. Sambhu Chakraborty is a distinguished consultant in quality accreditation for laboratories and hospitals. With a leadership portfolio that includes directorial roles in two laboratory organizations and a consulting firm, as well as chairmanship in a prominent laboratory organization, Dr. Chakraborty is a respected voice in the field. For further engagement or inquiries, Dr. Chakraborty can be contacted through email at director@iaqmconsultants.com and info@sambhuchakraborty.com. Additional resourcesand contact information are available on his websites, https://www.quality-pathshala.com and https://www.sambhuchakraborty.com, or via WhatsApp at +919830051583
About the author
Dr. Sambhu Chakraborty is a distinguished consultant in quality accreditation for laboratories and hospitals. With a leadership portfolio that includes directorial roles in two laboratory organizations and a consulting firm, as well as chairmanship in a prominent laboratory organization, Dr. Chakraborty is a respected voice in the field. For further engagement or inquiries, Dr. Chakraborty can be contacted through email at director@iaqmconsultants.com and info@sambhuchakraborty.com. Additional resourcesand contact information are available on his websites, https://www.quality-pathshala.com and https://www.sambhuchakraborty.com, or via WhatsApp at +919830051583