ASSESSMENT OF THE STATE-OF-THE-ART TRUENESS AND PRECISION OF SERUM TOTAL-CALCIUM AND GLUCOSE MEASUREMENTS IN FINNISH LABORATORIES - THE QSL-FINLAND STUDY

The purpose of the QSL-Finland study was to assess the state-of-the-ar t trueness and precision of serum total-calcium and glucose measuremen ts in Finnish clinical laboratories. For this purpose, 21 hospitals an d clinical institutes were selected. They measured six single donation sera, the total-calcium (t-calcium) and glucose content of which had been determined by ion chromatography and isotope dilution-gas chromat ography-mass spectrometry (ID-GC-MS) reference methods. The results we re interpreted in light of specifications for imprecision, bias and to tal error of routine methods that have been proposed in the past. The data revealed that the performance of t-calcium and glucose methods is generally acceptable in Finnish clinical laboratories. This study did not lead to a separation of laboratories according to accreditation. In consequence, it seems that accreditation, in its present form, cann ot substitute dedicated quality assurance practices.