Development of an automated quality control and assay performance management system for biochemical genetics laboratory

Objectives

Quality control (QC) in clinical laboratory is critical to ensuring quality and accuracy of patient results. However, QC monitoring is complicated in the multi-analyte, multi-instrument assays common to biochemical genetics laboratories. Comprehensive off-the-shelf QC management systems optimized for such highly complex assays and platforms are relatively scarce. A manual QC review process can impact laboratory productivity and increase risk of errors. Here we describe a novel software application that integrates, processes, and displays QC statistical parameters from multiple instruments in near real-time results by automated processor.

Methods

A customizable, cloud-based software application was developed to centralize the information, automate an extra review step in the QC review process and increase clinical utility. We monitored time spent on each step of QC review and QC range assignments before and one year after implementing the program and documented quality improvements.

Results

This QC program has modules for different assay platforms. The program's functions include automated collection and assay data analysis, Levey-Jennings charts with integrated data from multiple instruments, graphical data visualization, instrument data centralization, assay monitoring, and a QC audit trail. The program also generates email notifications for QC lot expiration, QC review reminder, and critical results alert enabling prompt communication to providers. After the first year, this program provided 81 %-time reduction of hands-on time.

Conclusion

This program improves assay quality and provides considerable time savings. One benefit of this software is the ease of updating program capabilities and customizing them to meet specific and changing needs, especially for high-complexity testing.