Hello list members,
We are noticing increasing numbers of UK NEQAS results of "zero"
(sometimes to three significant figures) being returned to us in
various schemes.
[1] Are labs reporting 'zero' on patients samples too?
[2] Do lab staff and end user clinicians understand that a result of
'zero' is impossible and potentially misleading?
[3] Should analysers not 'trap' or 'flag' results well below
detection limits as these could signal technical faults?
I do not wish to debate assay sensitivity and detection limits again,
but feel there is a training issue here in respect of the theory of
measurement and what (clinical laboratory) measurements actually
mean.
I am no expert on this but someone out there is ...
Regards to all
Jonathan Middle
Jonathan Middle PhD, Chairman UK NEQAS Executive,
UK NEQAS, PO Box 3909, Birmingham B15 2UE, U.K.
tel +44 (0)121 414 7300, fax +44 (0)121 414 1179
[log in to unmask] http://www.ukneqas.org.uk
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