| Literature DB >> 33869708 |
Anne Vincent1, Donnah Pocius1, Yun Huang1,2.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The error rate in the total testing process (TTP) of point-of-care (POC) glucose measurement remains high although a total quality management system has been applied. Quality indicators (QIs) in the TTP of glucose meter were established via risk assessment. Their two-year Six Sigma values were reviewed for quality improvement.Entities:
Keywords: Glucose meter; Point-of-care testing; Quality indicator; Risk assessment; Six sigma
Year: 2021 PMID: 33869708 PMCID: PMC8042413 DOI: 10.1016/j.plabm.2021.e00215
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Pract Lab Med ISSN: 2352-5517
Establishment of QIs by the frequency of risk, severity of impact on patient safety and availability of measurable data.
| Frequency of risk or severity of impact on patient safety | Availability of measurable data | QI establishment |
|---|---|---|
| Improbable or negligible | Not available | Risk was accepted, no QI needed for monitoring |
| Improbable or negligible | Available | Risk was accepted, QI established for improving operator’s testing skill |
| >Improbable or > negligible | Not available | Risk was not accepted, internal audit established for risk monitoring if possible (not included in this study) |
| >Improbable or > negligible | Available | Risk was not accepted, QI established for risk monitoring |
Measurable data was available from glucose meter data management system or other sources (e.g. laboratory information system, documents maintained in the POCT Program).
Fig. 1Total testing process of POC glucose measurement.
Eleven QIs generated from risk assessment in the TTP of POC glucose measurement.
| QIs for monitoring risk | Measurements (%) |
|---|---|
| Incorrect patient identification number | Pending results with incorrect patient identification number/total number of patient testing |
| Numeric patient identification for triage used in unauthorized units | Pending results with numeric patient identification for triage from unauthorized units/total number of patient testing |
| Meter analytical performance failure | |
| (1)Meter with total imprecision >10% | Number of meter with imprecision >10%/total number of meter |
| (2)EQA failure | Number of EQA failure/total number of proficiency testing |
| (3)Meter to Core Lab analyzer comparison failure | Number of testing with bias out of laboratory standards/total number of testing in comparison |
| Critical result not repeated on the meter | Number of critical results not repeated on the same or different meter within a five-minute interval/total number of critical results |
| Critical result not confirmed by Core Laboratory testing | Number of critical results not confirmed by Core Laboratory testing within a 30-minute interval/total number of critical results |
| Data transfer delayed due to undocking >4h | Number of test with undock time more than 4 hours/total number of patient testing |
| QC testing failure or procedure with error messages | |
| (1)QC testing procedure with error messages | Number of QC testing flagged with a procedure error message/total number of QC testing |
| (2)QC failure | Number of QC outliers/total number of QC testing |
| Patient testing procedure with error messages | Number of patient testing flagged with a procedure error message/total number of patient testing |
The numeric number designed by the POCT Program for patients in emergency department before registration and without hospital identification number should be only used in authorized units.
All critical values (<2.5 mmol/L or >25 mmol/L) from a glucose meter must be repeated on the meter. If it is the first one of the day for a patient, it must be confirmed by Core Laboratory chemistry analyzer with the venous blood sample.
The performance of QIs for POC glucose measurement in two years.
| QI | Defect% | Average Six Sigma value | Possible causes of risk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Range in 24 months | Average | |||
| Incorrect patient identification number (monthly) | 0.08-0.21 | 0.13 | 4.51 | Operator non-competence |
| Numeric patient identification for triage used in unauthorized units (monthly) | 0.02-0.19 | 0.08 | 4.66 | Operator non-compliance |
| Meter analytical performance failure | ||||
| (1)Meter with total imprecision >10% (monthly) | 2.3-10.2 | 5.9 | 3.13 | Operator non-competence, meter operation, meter analytical performance |
| (2)EQA failure (yearly) | 0-0.16 | 0.08 | 4.66 | Operator non-competence, meter analytical performance |
| (3)Meter to Core Lab analyzer comparison failure (yearly) (only available in 2019) | 0 | 0 | >6 | Not applicable, comparison was performed by POCT technologists |
| Critical result not repeated on the meter (monthly) | 78.3-87.7 | 84 | 0.5 | Operator non-compliance |
| Critical result not confirmed by Core Laboratory testing (monthly) | 91.1-99.0 | 95.1 | 0 | Operator non-compliance |
| Data transfer delayed due to undocking >4h (monthly) (18 month data available) | 3.0-8.0 | 4.7 | 3.17 | Operator non-compliance |
| QC test failure or procedure with error messages | ||||
| (1)QC testing procedure with error messages (monthly) | 1.3-3.1 | 1.7 | 3.62 | Operator non-competence, meter operation |
| (2)QC failure (monthly) | 0.4-1.1 | 0.95 | 3.85 | Operator non-competence, meter analytical performance |
| Patient testing procedure with error messages (monthly) | 4.2-5.6 | 4.9 | 3.15 | Operator non-competence, meter operation |
Fig. 2The improvement of Six Sigma value of two QIs by using upgraded glucose meters.