Quality Requirements and Standards
In 2003, the premier scientific journals announced a new initiative called STARD (Standards for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy) What does STARD mean for you? And what does it say about the data being reported in journals today? Dr. Westgard investigates. (Preview)
As we look at the quality of laboratory medicine, we need a demanding standard for judging the truth. See how some new tests (hs-CRP) and new recommendations (diabetes) fare when they're held up to the "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth" standard. (Preview)
Numerous CLSI committees are formulating the standards for "QC for the Future" right now. In light of recent evidence that analytical quality is not as good as most assumed, this is an open appeal to those decision-makers and deciders all across the country to remember that statistical QC is a critical tool for the laboratory.
In 2006, gas stations around the country ran out of gas. Would you go to a gas station that had no gas? Now, would you use a laboratory that had no quality in their testing?
Did you know the ASCP held a teleconference in 2006 on " A 'How-Should-I' guide to Laboratory Quality Control." They cited the lack of "Good Laboratory Practice" standards for QC in the laboratory. If only they had looked at the recent CLSI standards, they would have found some. Dr. Westgard explains the new C24-A3 standard and how it can lead you to good laboratory practices in quality control.