Biomedical subjects

L N Crawford

Publications and source records attributed to L N Crawford.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1994

Proficiency testing in reticulocyte counting.

The Laboratory Proficiency Testing Program tests and evaluates proficiency of clinical laboratories in Ontario, Canada. The programme began in 1974; testing of reticulocyte counts was added in 1982. From the beginning, the goal of the programme has been to ensure that the quality of practice in Ontario laboratories facilitates good quality patient care. Testing of indirect counting methods for reticulocytes is accomplished by the distribution of stained blood films. Performance is expressed in terms of accuracy and precision. Proficiency is assessed by comparing submitted results to an all-methods' mean and result reliability by observing the coefficient of variation (CV) of the cohort. The quality of the results vary neither with the manual counting system used nor the type of laboratory. The CV commonly ranges from 25 to 30%, and this lack of accuracy appears to be inherent in the technology of manual reticulocyte counting. We conclude that manual reticulocyte counting is technologically obsolete but may be of clinical value if used in a qualitative fashion. It should probably be replaced by an automated method.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1992

Proficiency testing of platelet counting in Ontario.

Proficiency testing results provide data for interlaboratory comparisons. The Laboratory Proficiency Testing Program of Ontario, Canada, has tested platelet counting for a decade and other hematology parameters for 15 years. Despite the fact that all testing programs are compromised by the type of testing material used, for platelet count testing, conclusions are possible. The data indicate that most laboratories in Ontario have greater difficulty performing reproducible platelet counting as compared with other components of hematologic cytometry. A major contributor to this shortfall is the method used by the laboratory. It was not a surprise that manual counting had a high coefficient of variation. Unexpectedly, the semiautomated methods used in the mid-1980s also displayed a high coefficient of variation.

Humans↗

PubMed1992

LPTP's (Laboratory Proficiency Testing Program) educational assistance program (EAP)--a review.

The Educational Assistance Program (EAP) of the Laboratory Proficiency Testing Program (LPTP) in Ontario, Canada, provides at-the-bench in-service education to the technological staff in smaller, remote or rural hospital laboratories. This service is provided to laboratories which have either been identified by LPTP as experiencing problems or on direct request. The tutorials are conducted by experienced volunteer technologists. LPTP carries out mandatory testing and proficiency evaluation in Ontario. Funded by the Ministry of Health of Ontario, EAP is offered voluntarily and without charge as part of LPTP's educational component of external quality assessment. Preliminary post-tutorial proficiency testing results show improved performance and recipient evaluation forms express an enthusiastic response. Both support continuation of this unique program.

Clinical Competence↗