Proficiency testing programs--promises, progress, and problems. A 40-year prospective.

摘要: Proficiency testing as a means of interlaboratory improvement is over 40 years old. tool the regulatory process nearly 20. While successful, ie, quality laboratory work in United States has improved significantly during past years, this union regulation and education continues to be marriage unequals. Clearly, those who started professional community on road proficiency envisioned promise quality. The fulfilled; even an basis, (precision) approaches or exceeds clinicians' requirements for medically useful data. Major problems continue exist: prospect regulating vast population "physicians' office laboratories" presents new challenges program providers, methodologies laboratories have improved, some long-held systems grading performance evaluation are beginning fail. failure not one intent, logistics, statistics. testing, fine sharp tool, corrupted when applied situation which it ill suited perform. New knowledge will renew allow professional, clinical progress.