Performance of cell counters in primary health care.

The results are presented from two external quality control surveys of cell counters in primary health care. The precision of haemoglobin measurements in the normal range was better than that obtained by conventional haemometers. The analytical quality of leucocyte analyses was about the same as that performed by hospital instruments. The precision of cell counters with respect to thrombocytes was poorer than that obtained on hospital instruments, especially in the lower level. Celldyn and Sysmex instruments performed best among the instruments examined. Reliable cell counter results were associated with medical laboratory technicians as operators of the instruments. To improve the analytical quality of the laboratory in primary health care, it appears necessary to establish an external quality assurance programme, including a laboratory consultancy service.

[1]  I. Romslo,et al.  Quality control does improve the performance of laboratory practice in primary health care. , 1991, Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation.

[2]  R. Macwalter,et al.  Biologic variation of common hematologic laboratory quantities in the elderly. , 1989, American journal of clinical pathology.

[3]  N. G. Christensen,et al.  Performance of dry-chemistry instruments in primary health care. , 1989, Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation.

[4]  N. G. Christensen,et al.  [Quality control of laboratory analyses performed in general practice]. , 1988, Tidsskrift for den Norske laegeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny raekke.

[5]  G. Cembrowski,et al.  Longitudinal study of error prevalence in Pennsylvania physicians' office laboratories. , 1988, JAMA.

[6]  C. Fraser.  Special Report: Desirable Standards for Hematology Tests: A Proposal , 1987 .

[7]  N. Ellis.  Chemical pathology and the family doctor. , 1986, The Practitioner.

[8]  S. Landaas,et al.  The quality of laboratory analyses in the primary health care. A proficiency survey on hemoglobin, glucose, leucocyte count and sedimentation rate (ESR) measurements. , 1986, Scandinavian journal of primary health care.

[9]  G. Gillett.  CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY NEARER THE PATIENT II , 1986, The Lancet.

[10]  R N Barnett,et al.  Medically useful criteria for analytic performance of laboratory tests. , 1985, American journal of clinical pathology.

[11]  P. Reilly,et al.  Laboratory and radiological investigations in general practice. I-Type requested and rate of use. , 1983, British medical journal.

[12]  V. Marks.  Clinical biochemistry nearer the patient. , 1983, British medical journal.