A new approach to define acceptance limits for hematology in external quality assessment schemes.

Background: A study performed in 2007 comparing the evaluation procedures used in European external quality assessment schemes (EQAS) for hemoglobin and leukocyte concentrations showed that acceptance criteria vary widely. For this reason, the Hematology working group from the European Organisation for External Quality Assurance Providers in Laboratory Medicine (EQALM) decided to perform a statistical study with the aim of establishing appropriate acceptance limits (AL) allowing harmonization between the evaluation procedures of European EQAS organizers.

Methods: Eight EQAS organizers from seven European countries provided their hematology survey results from 2010 to 2012 for red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), white blood cells (WBC), platelets and reticulocytes.

Interpretation and management of INR results: a case history based survey in 13 countries.

Introduction: Standardisation of treatment with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) is still an issue after 60 years of use. The study aimed to explore aspects of VKA monitoring in primary and secondary care.

Methods: Two case histories were distributed to physicians in 13 countries.

Diagnosing microalbuminuria and consequences for the drug treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes: a European survey in primary care.

Aims: To assess general practitioners (GPs) knowledge of guideline recommendations on diagnosing microalbuminuria (MA) and to evaluate how this diagnosis influences drug treatment of diabetes patients.

Methods: A postal case-history based questionnaire describing a male patient (previously not tested for MA) with type 2 diabetes who had several risk markers for cardiovascular disease.

Results: 2078GPs from nine European countries were included, with response rates varying from 7% to 43%.

Postanalytical external quality assessment of urine albumin in primary health care: an international survey.

Background: Microalbuminuria (MA) is recognized as an important risk factor for cardiovascular and renal complications in diabetes. We sought to evaluate how screening for MA is conducted and how urine albumin (UA) results are interpreted in primary care internationally.

Methods: General practitioners (GPs) received a case history-based questionnaire depicting a male type 2 diabetes patient in whom UA testing had not been performed.

[Uniform reference intervals and harmonised results in clinical biochemistry in Scandinavia--light ahead].

Danish laboratories are introducing identical reference intervals for a number of biochemical components in accordance with a Nordic agreement and recommendations during 2007. Danish doctors will consequently experience both changes in reference interval limits as well as adjustments of patients' levels of reported results for some components.