HbA1c External Quality Assessment: Commutable vs Noncommutable Samples
Reza Mohammadi1*, and Vagihe Norozi21Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical SciencesBranch, Tehran, Iran. 2Department of Biochemistry of External Quality Assessment Program, Iranian Association of Clinical Laboratory Doctors, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: HbA1c measurement is important in diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes. External quality assessment (EQA) is a way for evaluating laboratory performance in measuring HbA1c. For this, commutable quality control (QC) samples is recommended.Two commercial noncommutable QC samples were sended to 931 and 894 participant laboratories during Jully 2011 and February 2012, respectively, and Three patient commutable QC samples were also sended to 272, 231, and 886 participant laboratories during Jully 2013 and February 2014, and Jully 2014, respectively. Results of five commonly used HbA1c kits compared with total mean. With two commercial noncommutable samples, total group CVs% were 38.5% and 24.5%. With three patient commutable samples, total group CVs% were 8.0%, 6.8%, and 7.9%. In these situations mean of each kits results were in acceptable performance limits.Using commutable QC samples is essential for evaluating laboratory and kit performance in EQA.
Keywords: HbA1c; External quality assessment; Commutable Back to TOC