Abstract: A method analyzes a quality control strategy. A quality control rule can define quality control events and specifying a control limit for determining whether a quality control event passes or fails. The quality control rule and a number of patient samples tested between quality control events can be received. A first expected number of correctible errors when a quality control event fails can be computed based on the quality control rule and the number of patient samples tested between quality control events. A second expected number of final errors that are not correctible when a quality control event fails can be computed based on the quality control rule and the number of patient samples tested between quality control events. An assessment of the quality control rule can include the first expected number of correctible errors and the second expected number of final errors as separate values.

Abstract: A method analyzes a quality control strategy. A quality control rule can define quality control events and specifying a control limit for determining whether a quality control event passes or fails. The quality control rule and a number of patient samples tested between quality control events can be received. A first expected number of correctible errors when a quality control event fails can be computed based on the quality control rule and the number of patient samples tested between quality control events. A second expected number of final errors that are not correctible when a quality control event fails can be computed based on the quality control rule and the number of patient samples tested between quality control events. An assessment of the quality control rule can include the first expected number of correctible errors and the second expected number of final errors as separate values.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for optimizing a quality control strategy for rapid release results. An embodiment of the invention includes generating a set of candidate quality control rules and for each candidate rule, computing a maximum number of patient specimens that can be tested between quality control events while keeping the expected number of correctable unacceptable results below a predetermined correctable maximum and keeping the expected number of final unacceptable results below a predetermined final maximum. Furthermore a quality control utilization rate can be computed based on the number of patient specimens tested between each quality control event and the number of reference samples tested at each quality control event. The candidate rule for which the best quality control utilization rate may be selected along with the corresponding number of patients to be tested between each quality control as the optimum quality control strategy.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for optimizing a quality control strategy for rapid release results. An embodiment of the invention includes generating a set of candidate quality control rules and for each candidate rule, computing a maximum number of patient specimens that can be tested between quality control events while keeping the expected number of correctable unacceptable results below a predetermined correctable maximum and keeping the expected number of final unacceptable results below a predetermined final maximum. Furthermore a quality control utilization rate can be computed based on the number of patient specimens tested between each quality control event and the number of reference samples tested at each quality control event. The candidate rule for which the best quality control utilization rate may be selected along with the corresponding number of patients to be tested between each quality control as the optimum quality control strategy.

Abstract: A system for mitigating instrumentation differences in laboratory instruments includes one or more groups of laboratory instruments in communication with a normalization server over a network. Each group of instruments communicates output data to the normalization server which then presents normalized data to the groups of laboratory instruments. Various exemplary embodiments of the system and associated methods are provided.

Abstract: A system for mitigating instrumentation differences in laboratory instruments includes one or more groups of laboratory instruments in communication with a normalization server over a network. Each group of instruments communicates output data to the normalization server which then presents normalized data to the groups of laboratory instruments. Various exemplary embodiments of the system and associated methods are provided.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the performance of an instrument, particularly a hematology analyzer, by comparing its operating data with data compiled from a group of like instruments is provided. The method contemplates collecting historical data which is deposited in a central database where it may be retrieved by any participating laboratory. The participating laboratory performs an analysis and then accesses the database to retrieve data obtained from comparable instruments performing like analyses. The comparative analysis is then conducted from which a determination may be made with regard to a particular instrument.

Abstract: A method and system for mitigating instrumentation differences in laboratory instruments. The system of the present invention includes one or more groups of laboratory instruments in communication with a normalization server via a network. Each group of laboratory instruments communicates instrument control specimen and testing specimen output data to the normalization server via a variety of communication methods. Once the normalization server receives the control specimen data it generates a normalization curve for the instrument according to a control group. Accordingly, the normalization server then maps the testing specimen data according to the normalization curve The normalization server then outputs the normalized outputs to the groups. In a first embodiment, a external quality control output from the group is sent to the normalization server for the purpose of mapping the outputs to a larger peer output control group.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the performance of an instrument, particularly a hematology analyzer, by comparing its operating data with data compiled from a group of like instruments is provided. The method contemplates collecting historical data which is deposited in a central database where it may be retrieved by any participating laboratory. The participating laboratory performs an analysis and then accesses the database to retrieve data obtained from comparable instruments performing like analyses. The comparative analysis is then conducted from which a determination may be made with regard to a particular instrument.

Abstract: A procedure for evaluating the performance of an instrument, particularly a hematology analyzer, by comparing its operating data with data compiled from a group of like instruments is provided. The method contemplates collecting historical data which is deposited in a central database where it may retrieved by any participating laboratory. The participating laboratory performs an analysis and then accesses the database to retrieve data obtained from comparable instruments performing like analyzes. The comparative analysis is then conducted from which a determination may be made with regard to a particular instrument.

Abstract: A method and device for formatting instrumentation data for collection by an external monitoring facility. A laboratory information system (LIS) computing device receives laboratory instrument output from one or more laboratory instruments. The LIS transfers the data to the operating system for printing. In a first embodiment, a modified printer driver receives the data from the operating system. The driver formats the data according to a standardized format utilizing one or more data store lookups. The formatted data is stored in a file for extraction by the monitoring facility. In a second embodiment, the operating system sends the data to a standard printer driver which formats the data for printing and transfers the data to a modified port monitor. Similar to the modified printer driver, the modified port monitor formats the data utilizing one or more data store lookups and stores the result in a formatted file for extraction by the external monitoring facility.