Analysis of hematology quality control using six sigma metrics

Introduction: Clinical laboratories serve a critical role in increasing the efficiency of patient care. Choosing the right test, getting trustworthy results and appropriate interpretation are of utmost importance in improving the patient’s well-being. Quality management strategies should be applied...

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Main Authors: Shreya Goel, Amit R. Nisal, Ankita Raj, Ravindra C. Nimbargi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2024-04-01
Series:Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijpm.ijpm_352_23
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author Shreya Goel
Amit R. Nisal
Ankita Raj
Ravindra C. Nimbargi
author_facet Shreya Goel
Amit R. Nisal
Ankita Raj
Ravindra C. Nimbargi
author_sort Shreya Goel
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Clinical laboratories serve a critical role in increasing the efficiency of patient care. Choosing the right test, getting trustworthy results and appropriate interpretation are of utmost importance in improving the patient’s well-being. Quality management strategies should be applied in routine patient care because laboratory errors have a major impact on the quality of patient care. In sigma metrics, errors identified are quantified as percentage errors or defects per million (DPM). It aims at improving the quality control (QC) process by forming an appropriate strategy. Aim and Objectives: To analyze the internal quality control (IQC) of hematology analytes using the sigma metrics method and to devise the frequency of IQC by the results of six sigma metric analysis. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in a tertiary care center of western India. Internal quality control (IQC) data sets of five analytes- Red Blood Cell count (RBC), Hemoglobin (Hb), Hematocrit (Hct), White blood cell count (WBC), and Platelet count (PLT) were analyzed retrospectively of six months using Beckman Coulter DXH 800 hematology analyzers. Results: The observed sigma value was >6 for Hb, TLC, and PLT, indicating excellent results and requiring no modification in IQC. The Sigma value was between 3 and 4 for RBC and Hct suggested the need for improvement in quality control (QC) processes. No analytes showed a Sigma value of <3. Conclusion: Sigma metrics provide a quantitative framework that helps to assess analytic methodologies and can serve as an important self-assessment tool for quality assurance in the clinical laboratory.
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spelling doaj-art-1585f1e907df4437bda36b5e9b16ec8f2025-02-07T13:57:19ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology0377-49290974-51302024-04-0167233233510.4103/ijpm.ijpm_352_23Analysis of hematology quality control using six sigma metricsShreya GoelAmit R. NisalAnkita RajRavindra C. NimbargiIntroduction: Clinical laboratories serve a critical role in increasing the efficiency of patient care. Choosing the right test, getting trustworthy results and appropriate interpretation are of utmost importance in improving the patient’s well-being. Quality management strategies should be applied in routine patient care because laboratory errors have a major impact on the quality of patient care. In sigma metrics, errors identified are quantified as percentage errors or defects per million (DPM). It aims at improving the quality control (QC) process by forming an appropriate strategy. Aim and Objectives: To analyze the internal quality control (IQC) of hematology analytes using the sigma metrics method and to devise the frequency of IQC by the results of six sigma metric analysis. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in a tertiary care center of western India. Internal quality control (IQC) data sets of five analytes- Red Blood Cell count (RBC), Hemoglobin (Hb), Hematocrit (Hct), White blood cell count (WBC), and Platelet count (PLT) were analyzed retrospectively of six months using Beckman Coulter DXH 800 hematology analyzers. Results: The observed sigma value was >6 for Hb, TLC, and PLT, indicating excellent results and requiring no modification in IQC. The Sigma value was between 3 and 4 for RBC and Hct suggested the need for improvement in quality control (QC) processes. No analytes showed a Sigma value of <3. Conclusion: Sigma metrics provide a quantitative framework that helps to assess analytic methodologies and can serve as an important self-assessment tool for quality assurance in the clinical laboratory.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijpm.ijpm_352_23hematologyquality controlsix sigma metrics
spellingShingle Shreya Goel
Amit R. Nisal
Ankita Raj
Ravindra C. Nimbargi
Analysis of hematology quality control using six sigma metrics
Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology
hematology
quality control
six sigma metrics
title Analysis of hematology quality control using six sigma metrics
title_full Analysis of hematology quality control using six sigma metrics
title_fullStr Analysis of hematology quality control using six sigma metrics
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of hematology quality control using six sigma metrics
title_short Analysis of hematology quality control using six sigma metrics
title_sort analysis of hematology quality control using six sigma metrics
topic hematology
quality control
six sigma metrics
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijpm.ijpm_352_23
work_keys_str_mv AT shreyagoel analysisofhematologyqualitycontrolusingsixsigmametrics
AT amitrnisal analysisofhematologyqualitycontrolusingsixsigmametrics
AT ankitaraj analysisofhematologyqualitycontrolusingsixsigmametrics
AT ravindracnimbargi analysisofhematologyqualitycontrolusingsixsigmametrics