Labquality

EQA Client News 4/2024

Welcome to the last EQA client newsletter of 2024! As we are approaching the end of the year, we have some news to share with you.

Topics covered in this newsletter:

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New EQA scheme: 5241 Bordetella pertussis/parapertussis, nucleic acid detection

We are announcing a new EQA scheme for Bordetella pertussis/parapertussis nucleic acid detection for 2025. The scheme is suitable for different nucleic acid detection tests. It includes two non-infectious liquid samples that should be analysed as regular patient samples. The participants submit their results through the electronic platform LabScala, and the EQA Coordinator processes them. Result evaluations, including comments by the Scheme Expert, will be published in the final report distributed to the participants. There will be two rounds in 2025.

Please register with LabScala or your local distributor. For more information, don't hesitate to contact customer service info@labquality.com.

Samples 2 simulated samples (1 mL each)
Distribution February and October 2025

 

Scientific posters presented at EQALM Symposium, Vienna

We presented two scientific posters at the EQALM Symposium in Vienna, organized by the European Organization for External Quality Assurance Providers in Laboratory Medicine (EQALM). The organisation provides a forum for cooperation and exchanging knowledge on quality-related matters, especially regarding EQA programs in Europe.

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Methods used for lipemia evaluation require more attention and quality control processes

This study aimed to gain knowledge on how the participants evaluate and handle lipemic samples. A lipemic sample and regular samples in the general clinical chemistry round 6-2023 were sent. Eight parameters were analysed, and participants responded to questions regarding lipemic sample handling. The results indicate a need for harmonization on how lipemic sample handling should be performed and monitored in clinical laboratories.

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Artificial intelligence determined reference value (“rAIght value”) included in virtual histopathology EQA scheme: Comparison of participating pathologists and a trained image analysis algorithm

Our EQA Solutions Director, Jonna Pelanti, gave a poster presentation on the innovative use of AI in histopathology EQA. Labquality organises a virtual histopathology EQA scheme twice a year. In round 2-2023, the topic was Prostate. The evaluation of participant performance was based on the reference diagnosis by the scheme expert. Still, in the final report, values provided by Aiforia's AI model and results by pathologists were compared. In this study, the grading of the samples differs somewhat between the participants and the AI model. Still, in conclusion, artificial intelligence tools can support the user’s visual interpretation and assist the pathologist in making a diagnosis. As AI models can analyse all the slide images quickly, they can help reduce the workload of medical professionals.
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Microbiology EQA reports help to understand microbes and microbiological tests better

This section will present an example of our comprehensive product selection, which offers excellent solutions for external quality assessment. Our product catalogue covers several specialities, and we organize EQA rounds virtually and traditionally as samples are analyzed in the laboratory. In the final report, essential observations and sample contents of the rounds are compiled, where experts play a crucial role in evaluating the results. We have 120 experts working on external quality assessment as part of the processing and reporting results. 

This time, we would like to highlight the microbiology reports, which provide comprehensive information and educational perspectives on the characteristics of the microbes contained in the samples. These reports are not only informative but also practical, helping participants understand the importance of microbiological tests and the microbes themselves in laboratory diagnostics. 

The reports present features and best practices related to microbial identification, which can help you deepen your knowledge of pathogen identification and further develop your laboratory operations. Attached is an example from the mycology product category 5260 Fungal culture, where participants were asked to cultivate three samples. In addition to identification, the reports also present the results of antifungal susceptibility testing. In the comment section, our scheme expert has compiled the key points about the issues related to identification and also evaluated how well these succeeded in the EQA round. 

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with these reports. We believe that they will provide you with valuable insights for developing your skills!

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Introducing Labquality’s IT & LabScala Team!

The IT & LabScala team is one of three teams in Labquality's EQA Solutions department. The R&D and Science teams introduced themselves earlier; later, the last team will introduce itself. So stay tuned! 

The IT & LabScala team is primarily responsible for maintaining and developing the order and results processing platform LabScala. We support other teams, for example product development, in designing and constructing result forms for new products. We are also responsible for the direct integrations of the laboratories' information systems with LabScala and providing support in background registry matters.

Our team consists of six people: EQA Coordinators Iida, Marsa, Mira, Päivi, and Riitta, as well as team leader Kristel.

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IT & LabScala team: EQA Coordinator Iida Silvo, EQA Solutions Manager Kristel Virtanen, EQA Coordinators Päivi Ranta, Riitta Viertola, Mira Saarinen and Marsa Järvenpää.

Register now for Labquality Days 2025!

Labquality Days—The International Congress on Quality in Laboratory Medicine and Health Technology will be held from 6 to 7 February 2025 in Helsinki. Labquality Days is one of Northern Europe’s largest annual international congresses on quality in laboratory medicine, health technology, and clinical evidence generation.

Register now! Super Early Bird rates are available only until 30 November 2024.

See the program and register!

Customer Satisfaction Survey  

You should receive a link to our customer satisfaction survey in a few weeks. Our EQA service has many features, such as informative reports, commutable samples, customer support, and wide coverage. We would like you to tell us which ones you consider the most important and how satisfied you are with Labquality. Responding to the survey should take no more than ten minutes.