Assessment of Artificial Urine and Whole Blood to be Utilized as Proficiency Testing Materials for Laboratories in Nonthaburi

Abstract

Proficiency testing materials are important in controlling the quality of the analysis. However, proficiency testing materials used in public health hospitals are often imported from abroad and are expensive, resulting in a high budget. In the preparation of proficiency testing materials for their own use before being used, efficiency must be evaluated in actual use. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the performance proficiency testing materials for whole blood and artificial urine types in the laboratory in Nonthaburi Province, which have been tested for homogeneity and stability by the Medical Laboratory Quality Control Substance Development Research Unit, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University. Proficiency testing materials were sent for evaluation from 76 public health hospitals in Nonthaburi province. Two rounds of samples were delivered, each containing 7 samples, for fingertip glucose (3 samples), packed red blood cell volume determination (2 samples), and sugar, protein, and pregnancy in urine (2 samples). After that, the results were calculated to find the Z-score and the percentage of compliance with the target value. The results were evaluated with IZI ≤ 2 for the glucometer fingertip blood sugar analysis. The average of both cycles was 95.95% (94.85% and 97.05% in cycles 1 and 2). In the evaluation of the detection of packed red blood cell volume, the value ofIZI ≤ 2 averaged both rounds, 90.57% (90.57% and 90.57% in cycles 1 and 2). The assessment of the pregnancy test in urine found that it was consistent with the average target value for both rounds by 95.72% (95.72% and 95.72% in rounds 1 and 2). The urinary protein assay found that it was 96.05% consistent with the mean target values for both rounds (96.05% and 96.05% of rounds 1 and 2) and urinary glucose analysis. It was found that it was consistent with the average target value for both rounds by 94.40% (94.40% and 94.40% in rounds 1 and 2). From the results of the general information survey, it was found that the Public Health Hospital used glucometers and urine testing kits with various brands of test strips, which did not affect the results of the quality control substance evaluation. In conclusion, the proficiency testing materials are suitable for use in quality control in the laboratory.