Article written by
Michael Haller, APGQA.com Lead Developer, Analytical Products Group
The APG Advantage Reporting System has been available to individual laboratories for
approximately 12 months. Recently, APG released the Corporate Advantage Reporting System.
The Corporate Advantage Reporting System is the summarization of proficiency testing
results for two or more laboratories. The system identifies, compares,
and monitors the performance of participating laboratories. It provides an
avenue for identifying technical experts and areas that require improvement.
The Corporate Advantage Reporting System is a series of web-based reports to
manage regulatory requirements and quality improvement. The remainder of this
article will focus on Corporate Analyte Summary. Subsequent newsletter articles
will discuss other aspects of the system.
What is the Corporate Analyte Summary?
The Corporate Analyte Summary is a graphical and
tabular depiction of each analyte which your
laboratories reported. Here is how it works. First,
select a study. Then, select an analyte. You will then see the regulatory and/or interlaboratory graphs.
The regulatory graph illustrates each laboratories
proximity to the expected regulatory mean which is used to
determine state accreditation compliance. The interlaboratory
graph illustrates each laboratories proximity to the actual
interlaboratory mean for the analyte. Proximity
is expressed in terms of a ZScore. For more information
on ZScores refer to newsletter article
Understanding ZScores.
The tabular results are also listed below the graph(s).
Consistently Defensible Performance
Time is precious. That is why we all prioritize. As a general rule
of thumb, ZScores clustered near the mean (green line) signify
consistent and defensible data across the participating
laboratories. The graph below shows a corporate program with all
participating laboratories close to the mean. This
is generally not an analysis that necessitates further investigation.
Identifying Technical Expertise
Individuals who oversee the quality assurance program for multiple
laboratories confront unique challenges. Knowledge sharing becomes
a tremendous challenge and a unique opportunity. Every QA manager
knows a few labs that consistently perform well on certain analytes,
and the opposite is true. Sharing techniques and method information
between laboratories is one of the keys to continuous improvement.
The Corporate Analyte Summary provides a mechanism for identify
deviations in performance. Referring to the graph below, Sample
Corp. 29 is very close to the analyte's inter-laboratory study
mean. The other labs are not near the inter-laboratory mean.
Two labs are well below the mean and one well above it. This can
signify inconsistencies in training, methods, personnel or
instrumentation. If this superior performance continues, Sample Corp. 29
should become the technical expert for the analyte, and consequently be
given a forum to share this expertise.
Consistent Performance – But not "good" consistency
Consistency may not always be good. Consistency that
is not clustered near the inter-laboratory study mean may be evidence of insufficient method
development, training, or other root cause. Further investigation is warranted when analyte
performance consistently resembles the graph below.
For additional information or to configure your Elite Membership Account to
utilize Corporate Advantage Reporting, please contact Mike Haller at
m.haller@apgqa.com or by phone at 800.272.4442.
|
