Comparison of the Results of Proficiency Testing in Seven Medical Laboratories - a Benchmark Project to Define a Uniform Key Performance Indicator.

Background: In medical laboratories, it is mandatory to ensure the analytical quality of the measurement procedures by proficiency testing (PT). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the PT results of seven medical laboratories in South Tyrol - as a measure of the analytical performance - were different.

Methods: As a measure for the analytical performance of the individual laboratories, we used the PT results (RIQAS, Randox international quality assessment scheme) of one year for 34 analytes.