Thromb Haemost 1991; 65(02): 149-152
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1647474
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

The Impact of Sequential Quality Assessment Exercises on Laboratory Performance: The Multicentre ECAT Angina Pectoris

Study Report from the European Concerted Action on Thrombosis and Disabilities (ECAT)[*]
S G Thompson
,
G Calori
,
J M Thomson
,
F Haverkate
,
F Duckert
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 16 May 1990

Accepted after revision 12 September 1990

Publication Date:
02 July 2018 (online)

Summary

As an adjunct to a European multicentre prospective study, five quality assessment (QA) exercises, spanning a period of 2.5 years, were undertaken. In these, fifteen laboratories from eight countries each performed ten haemostatic factor assays. The design of the QA exercises allowed the between-dupli cate, between-day and between-laboratory coefficients of variation (CVs) to be calculated. The between-duplicate CV decreased by a factor of one quarter, and the between-day CV by a factor of one third, over the five exercises. The activated-partial thromboplastin time (APTT) assay consistently showed the lowest CVs, while there was notable improvement in the between-day CVs for von Willebrand factor related antigen (vWF R: Ag) and factor VIII clotting activity (VIII:C), However, the between-laboratory CV assessing extent of agreement between the different laboratories, did not apparently improve over the five exercises. Thus, while QA exercises may be very useful in improving the performance of haemostatic assays according to criteria which an individual laboratory can assess, improving agreement on haemostatic assay results between laboratories may be more difficult to achieve.

* List of participants on p 152.


 
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