PT Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Randox Laboratories

RIQAS Urinalysis reports have been designed specifically for participants of the RIQAS Urinalysis programme (RQ9138). Report features include;

Scoring system
Ability to rate performance and visualise historical performance data
Visual representation of performance
Peer group comparison levels

To find out more on the range of features available with the report, see the table below.

RIQAS EQA Reports

Scoring System

The Urinalysis Report scoring system, scores participants based on a spread of results over each category and how far a participant is away from the consensus, which is referred to as the Target Category.

The score calculated is based on how close to the target category a participant’s result falls. A score of 0 refers to a result which falls within the target category and therefore, the comment “acceptable” will be given. A laboratory’s performance is described as being acceptable or unacceptable based on this calculated score.

A laboratory must achieve a score of between -6 and +6 for their performance to be deemed acceptable. Scores can fall between the values of -10 and +8.

If a participant’s result matches the target category then they will receive the score of 0 and the comment “acceptable” given.
Where a participant returns a negative result and the target category is positive (category 9), the participant score will be -10. The comment “unacceptable” will be given.
Where a participant returns a positive result (category 9) and the target category is negative, the participant score will be +8 and the comment “unacceptable” given.

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Text Section

Current Sample

The score achieved for the current reported sample together with the associated comment of acceptable, unacceptable or borderline will be listed in the comments box located towards the top of the results page for each registered parameter. The percentage (%) of results from the selected peer group which fall within the target category are also stated.

Potential Historical Information

The number of correct scores (i.e. scores of 0) that have been submitted in the last “n” samples, up to a maximum of 6 previous samples. The number of acceptable assessments that have been submitted in the last “n” samples, up to a maximum of 6 previous samples.

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Chart Section

Charting of Current & Historical Information

Results of scoring for each sample are displayed on a Levey-Jennings style chart with “0” score in the middle and scoring categories positioned on either side for 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. The chart is shaded into bands depending on the scores.

Acceptable scores (0-6) have no shading, Borderline scores (6-8) have light red shading and unacceptable scores (8-10) are shaded a darker red.

Scores for each of the last 12 samples are plotted against the appropriate sample number and the chart also indicates whether the participant’s reported result category is higher or lower than the target category.

The target categories are stated along the top of the chart and if there are no target categories due to a lack of numbers then an “X” is plotted to show that a result has been submitted but could not be scored.

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Summary Page

Reporting – Summary Page

The summary page at the end of the report lists all of the parameters that a participant has registered for.

For each parameter the following information is stated:

Target Category, which is dependent on the unit registered
The result which has returned by the participant
The score achieved for the current sample
The comment of Acceptable / Unacceptable / Borderline
Where the comment is “Unacceptable” it is highlighted in bold italics and underlined
The number of “Acceptable” assessments that have been achieved over the previous 6 samples

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RIQAS Urine Toxicology Report

Posted on 8th March 2018 at 1:17 pm.

Written by Martin Conway

A dedicated report is provided for the Urine Toxicology programme. The report is divided into two subsections; the screening (qualitative) and the quantitative section, allowing for visual performance assessment at-a-glance.

Screening Section

Your laboratory’s result is displayed along with the correct response. A visual chart is also provided displaying performance of the last 20 samples. A breakdown of the screening results submitted by other laboratories in your method group and all method groups for the current sample is also provided at a variety of cut-offs. A further breakdown is provided for various methods at your specific cut-off.

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Quantitative Section

The Quantitative section of the Urine Toxicology report is further broken down into a text section comparing your laboratory’s performance to the mean for comparison, a Histogram chart indicating your laboratory’s performance in relation to the method group and the all method group and a multi-method section highlighting the performance of other methods.

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This Christmas, treat your laboratory to the “gift” of Randox Quality Control

Posted on 21st December 2017 at 12:11 pm.

Written by Martin Conway

At Christmas time all around the globe, people search for the best gift for their loved ones, something they will really like. At Randox Quality Control, we understand you care for your patients, and your laboratory. This year, show how much you care by treating your lab to a Randox Quality Control.

With over 35 years’ experience in the market, Quality Control is our passion and streamlining QC practice is our forte! Our extensive product offering comprises true third party controls, interlaboratory data management, external quality assessment and calibration verification.

Last year we looked in depth at Acusera – our range of true third party controls. This year, lets add another product to the Christmas wish list in the form of RIQAS, the world’s largest EQA scheme. Don’t wait until Christmas to wake up to a RIQAS programme under your tree – enrol in one of our comprehensive programmes today.

With over 45,000 laboratory participants across 133 countries, our RIQAS portfolio spans 32 comprehensive programmes ranging from Chemistry to Immunoassay, Lipids to Cardiac, Drugs to Serology and much more!

User-friendly, one page per parameter reports are available within 72 hours of the submission deadline. These reports enable at-a-glance performance assessment, ultimately allowing your laboratory to save valuable time. You will also gain access to complimentary multi-instrument and inter-laboratory reports as well as an end-of-cycle report summarising laboratory performance for each cycle and helping to identify progress over time.

Consolidation is key – and with an extensive parameter index available (up to 360 parameters) RIQAS will help you to significantly reduce costs, time and the number of individual programmes required to cover your test menu.

All RIQAS samples are free from interfering preservatives ensuring a commutable matrix that reacts to the test system in the same manner as a patient sample.

Additionally, enrolling in RIQAS isn’t just enrolling in an EQA scheme. Our programmes are accepted by National and International accreditation bodies worldwide and at the end of each cycle, participation in the scheme results in a certificate that can be used to decorate your laboratory all year around – not just at Christmas!

So this Christmas don’t give your laboratory second best, choose RIQAS, and reap the rewards.

To find out more on any of our RIQAS programmes visit our website – http://www.randox.com/riqas-external-quality-assessment/ or email us at acusera@randox.com

Randox Quality Control wish you all Season’s Greetings & a Prosperous New Year!

RIQAS Instrument Group Report

Posted on 27th November 2017 at 2:10 pm.

Written by Martin Conway

All RIQAS participants are entitled to register up to five separate instruments per programme at no extra cost.

Individual reports for each instrument are supplied as normal in addition to a complimentary instrument group report allowing the performance of each instrument to be uniquely compared and assessed easily.

RIQAS EQA Reports

Instrument Group Report

Instrument Group Report

The multi-instrument group report displays the %Deviation for the last 10 samples along with the RM%Dev across all registered laboratory instruments. The %Dev for each instrument is plotted on a user-friendly, colour coded chart for instant identification of poor performing instruments.

As an ISO requirement, the Multi-Instrument Report is an extremely useful and beneficial tool for laboratories – “Laboratories with two or more analysers for examinations, should have a defined mechanism for comparison of results across analysers” – ISO 15189:2012.

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RIQAS Inter-Laboratory Group Report

Posted on 27th November 2017 at 2:08 pm.

Written by Martin Conway

A unique group reporting facility is available allowing laboratory groups or chains to effectively monitor the performance of satellite sites.

All laboratories within a group will receive their RIQAS sample packs, analyse the samples, return results to RIQAS and receive their individual RIQAS reports as normal. In addition to this a separate group report will be sent to the group manager or supervisor allowing relative performance of all laboratories within the group to be assessed.

RIQAS EQA Reports

Interlaboratory Group Report

Interlaboratory Group Report

For each laboratory in the group, the interlaboratory group report displays the %Dev for the last 10 samples along with the RM%Dev. The %Dev for each laboratory is plotted on a user-friendly, colour coded chart for instant identification of poor performing labs.

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RIQAS End-of-Cycle Report

Posted on 27th November 2017 at 2:07 pm.

Written by Martin Conway

RIQAS End-of-Cycle reports are sent to all participants who receive the standard report. Therefore, participants who are enrolled in RIQAS Urinalysis, RIQAS Urine Toxicology and RIQAS Serology programmes will not receive an End-of-Cycle report.

The RIQAS End-of-Cycle report provides laboratories with a complete summary of their External Quality Assessment performance. Performance is also compared to that of the previous cycle providing an indication of progress and improvement over time. Data is presented in both written and graphical format allowing a visual assessment of overall performance.

The RIQAS End-of-Cycle report is split into 3 sub-sections. These sub-sections are designed to allow performance assessment at a glance.

RIQAS EQA Reports

RIQAS End-of-Cycle Report Features

One Page per Parameter Cycle Summary

The Parameter Cycle Summary section provides an overview of the results returned for each sample in the cycle. The text section summarises the laboratory’s result compared to the Mean for Comparison. Laboratory performance for the current cycle is also compared to that of the previous cycle. A variety of charts including Levey-Jennings, Target Score, % Deviation by sample and % Deviation by concentration are also presented allowing a visual assessment of laboratory performance over the cycle.

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Text Section

The text section provides a summary of the laboratory’s results and statistics including Mean for Comparison, SDPA, %CV, Uncertainty, SDI, Target Score and % Deviation. An additional table comparing performance for the current cycle to the previous cycle is also provided.

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Chart Section

The laboratory’s performance is summarised in various charts including Levey-Jennings, Target Score, % Deviation by sample and % Deviation by Concentration.

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Cycle Average Absolute SDI Summary

The absolute SDI summary report compares current performance for all parameters to the previous cycle and indicates whether performance is better or worse. Performance is compared to other RIQAS participants in your country and worldwide.

current and previous cycle absolute sdis (end-of-cycle report)

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Certificate of Performance

A certificate of performance is provided listing all parameters, for which the laboratory achieved an acceptable level of performance (Average Absolute SDI <2). Although the End-of-Cycle Report is issued for all registered parameters, the certificate of performance will only be available for parameters where results for at least 50% of samples in the cycle have been returned.

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RIQAS Standard Report

Posted on 27th November 2017 at 2:05 pm.

Written by Martin Conway

There are a variety of RIQAS reports designed to enable quick and easy identification of any trends or test system issues. The standard quantitative report is provided in a user-friendly, one page per parameter format allowing a visual, at-a-glance assessment of performance. The standard quantitative report is split into several easy to interpret subsections each designed to save valuable laboratory time.

You can explore each of the report sections using the table below. Don’t forget, to enlarge the image, simply click on it.

RIQAS EQA Reports

RIQAS Reports Features

Standard Report

Performance data is presented in a simple one page format for each analyte. Each one page report comprises seven sub-reports providing a statistical and graphical representation of laboratory performance.

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Text Section

The text section provides a statistical breakdown of results by all methods, your method and instrument group. The Mean, CV% and Uncertainty or Measurement is presented for each comparison group.

Your laboratory’s result is compared to the Mean for Comparison (usually the instrument group Mean). Also included are the RIQAS performance indicators; SDI, Target Score and %Deviation.

Acceptable performance criteria:

SDI <2
Target Score >50
%Deviation

The defined acceptable limits default to the RIQAS TDPA values but may be based on CLIA, biological variation or country specific limits.

Performance goals based on Biological Variation are also stated within the text section for information purposes.

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Histogram

The histogram chart provides an overview of how your laboratory’s result compares to the all method group, your method group and your instrument group. Your result is represented by a black triangle; the closer to the centre the better.

The chart is intended to provide a quick visualisation of performance compared to other method groups and can be used to identify any potential bias.

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Levey-Jennings

The Levey-Jennings chart plots the last 20 SDI’s and is extremely useful for monitoring EQA performance over time, allowing quick and easy identification of any trends or bias. The chart is colour coded making interpretation simple and easy; results that fall in the white area are excellent and those in the red area unacceptable.

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Target Score

The Target Score (TS) chart is a unique chart which displays your laboratory’s last 20 target scores delivering an instant, visual indication of performance. The TS chart is conveniently colour coded for even easier performance assessment, a TS >50 is acceptable. The TS is a numerical index relating your %Deviation from the mean to a Target Deviation for Performance Assessment (TDPA).

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%Deviation by Sample Chart

The %Deviation by sample chart displays the %Deviation for the last 20 EQA samples enabling identification of trends and shifts in performance. Similar to the other charts on the RIQAS report, the %Deviation by sample chart is shaded to indicate the limit of acceptable performance. A black dot within the white section of the chart will represent results with a %Deviation within your acceptable limits of performance; a black dot within the red section of the chart will represent results with a %Deviation outside your acceptable limits of performance. %Deviations are not influenced by the performance of your peers, as seen with the standard deviation index (SDI) and therefore is a better indicator of individual performance.

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%Deviation by Concentration Chart

The %Deviation by concentration chart enables easy detection of possible concentration related biases. Unlike the other charts provided on the report, the %Deviation by concentration chart displays the concentration range of the previous 20 samples along the bottom of the chart.

Using this scale along with the percentage deviation, you are provided with a rapid assessment of your %Deviation in relation to the concentration of the:

• Current sample (represented by a square)
• Your 19 previous results (represented by circles)

This chart provides an easy interpretation of potential positive or negative biases at high or low concentrations, or whether a particular sample is a random outlier.

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Multi-Method Stat Section

The Multi Method Stat Section provides you with an easy way of assessing the performance of the other methods used to analyse the parameter. This is useful when your laboratory plans to change the analytical method used for the parameter.

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Summary Page

Located at the back of the standard quantitative report, our quick reference summary page details the performance for each registered parameter in the programme.

Within the performance column, RIQAS provides an effortless method of assessing the performance of each parameter within the sample distribution. When a red triangle appears next to the parameter, this indicates that all performance indicators (SDI, TS and %DEV) have exceeded the performance criteria.

The performance indicator limits for each parameter are exceeded when your result produces:
• An SDI greater than +/- 2 standard deviations.
• A Target Score less than 50 (only when Target Scoring is available)
• A %Deviation greater than your set acceptable limits of performance.

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Summary CSV Files

A summary CSV file is available on request to all participating laboratories. The report provides a summary of all statistics, acceptable limits and performance indicators as a .csv file for each sample in the cycle.

A retrospective statistics summary is also available, four weeks after the final submission date for parameters where a result was not submitted on time.