An educational web-based external quality assessment outcome and evaluation: first experiences with urinary sediment and hemostaseology.

External quality assessment is a standard procedure for many medical laboratories, especially those accredited according to ISO 15189. INSTAND has developed web-based quality control surveys (WQ) with integrated case-based learning in collaboration with the Institute for Teaching and Educational Research in Health Sciences (IDBG), University of Witten/Herdecke. The WQs were presented via a weblink using the learning management system CASUS.

Experience with an alternative form of samples for external quality assessment of urinary sediment (visual sample EQA).

Background: Urinary sediment components are mainly unstable, especially in their original forms. This makes the use of such material in routine external quality assessment surveys (EQAS) almost impossible. The development of an alternative EQAS for urinary sediment using photomicrographs (visual-sample EQAS) is described here, together with results, improvements and future plans.