A STUDY ON BIOCHEMISTRY EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS AND DETERMINANTS OF PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES IN CLINICAL LABORATORIES IN VIETNAM
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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54607/hcmue.js.22.11.5285(2025)Abstract
This study evaluated the outcomes of external quality assessment (EQA) programs in clinical biochemistry and explored factors contributing to unacceptable results. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 240 laboratories participating in five consecutive EQA rounds (October 2024–February 2025), covering 15 biochemical parameters. The Chi-square test was employed to determine statistically significant differences between groups. Unacceptable outcomes varied across methods and rounds, primarily linked to equipment malfunction or insufficient calibration and maintenance, use of third-party reagents, and lack of validation. Over 90% of samples met requirements for temperature and transport conditions before analysis. However, many laboratories continued to operate open systems and did not provide complete information regarding the validation of use. Most laboratories conducted reviews when discrepancies were detected, used the SDI index for evaluation, and participated in continuous training. The findings indicate that the EQA program contributes to standardizing procedures and enhancing the reliability of clinical biochemistry laboratories. These findings highlight the role of EQA programs in standardizing laboratory practices and improving reliability in clinical biochemistry.Downloads
References
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