On 10 Mar 2004, at 10:48, Frost, Stephen wrote:
> I wondered what your current views are on cholesterol measurement in
> the community and whether this should be supported by the laboratory.
> I have been approached recently by nursing/health visitors in
> neighbouring local PCTs for advice on appropriate equipment and
> whether we feel cholesterol measurement should be included in
> community health screening sessions. I was involved in local community
> QA support about ten years ago but this seemed to fade away. NSFs and
> such like may be raising interest again, together with TV cereal
> adverts. 'Know your number and lower it.'
>
> In particular, can you answer any of the following:
>
> Do you support this type of measurement in principle?
> Is POCT preferable to sending samples to the lab or visa versa?
> Does anyone provide active QA or QC support for POCT cholesterol? If
> so what do you use? What is the current equipment available and what
> is most suitable? Anyone measure other lipids by POCT? Does anyone
> have a direct financial/budgetary involvement in any way? Does anyone
> provide operating guidelines or training, or other specific advice
> e.g. related to sample handling, follow up of abnormals etc.?
I can answer the QA aspect of this - also with apologies for cross
posting
We operate an EQA scheme for POCT sites covering total
cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglyceride, and have been doing
so for many years. The 2-monthly distributions comprise 3
unmodified liquid human serum specimens, and reports include
individual comments where appropriate (we don't include any
performance scores, as the participants are non-laboratory staff).
The service cost is £75 per year (reduced to £65 where more than
one participation is paid for together, eg where a laboratory is
looking after several community sites)
We would be pleased to send details to any prospective
participants
David
Dr David Bullock
Director, Wolfson EQA Laboratory
P O Box 3909, Birmingham B15 2UE, U K
FAX: 0121 414 1179 [+44 121 414 1179]
------ACB discussion List Information--------
This is an open discussion list for the academic and clinical
community working in clinical biochemistry.
Please note, archived messages are public and can be viewed
via the internet. Views expressed are those of the individual and
they are responsible for all message content.
ACB Web Site
http://www.acb.org.uk
List Archives
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN.html
List Instructions (How to leave etc.)
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/
|