Tools, Technologies and Training for Healthcare Laboratories

Q&A: How to Plan for IQCP?

PosteQuestionPathsAheadd by Sten Westgard, MS

As many of you know, EQC is out and IQCP is in. As the expiration date for EQC approaches in 2016, labs need to learn more ab
out Risk QC and IQCPs. CMS has an email address where you can send questions.

We tried out the question and answer line with CMS, see the results after the jump...

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21 things I've learned about New BGM regulations

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

As many of you know, the FDA has issued new draft guidelines about Blood Glucose Monitoring Test Systems for Industry and Manufacturers.

Recently, the AACC held an excellent webinar where an Dr. Courtney Lias, PhD from the FDA discussed the intentions of the new guidances and then fielded a LOT of questions. I don't want to step on what Dr. Lias and the AACC accomplished during their webinar. There was useful information in that presentation and I encourage others to consider getting those materials once they become available on the AACC website.

However, while reading through the guidances and talking to laboratories these past few months, I thought I might share a few observations...

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Upcoming Workshop: Puerto Rico

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

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Upcoming Workshop: Time to Change Your QC?

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

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New Book: Basic Quality Management Systems

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

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IQC, EQC, IQCP... and now OBQC?

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

My esteemed colleague, good friend, and keen-eyed tracker of all things regulatory. Dr. Sharon Ehrmeyer, alerted me to a HUGE change in US regulations.

In April CMS sent out a memo title "Policy Clarification on Acceptable Control Materials Used when Quality Control (QC) is Performed in Laboratories"

This memo may contain as big a shift in regulatory policy as IQCP was to EQC.  More, after the jump...

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Losing ground on HbA1c

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

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Theranos Bleeds out...

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

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Thank you, Haerbin!

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

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Westgard in the News: Advance for the Laboratory Manager, February Issue

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

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Budgets aren't the only things getting squeezed in the lab...

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

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Sigma-metrics in Korea PT

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

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ICYMI: Theranos receives last minute transfusion

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

Theranos300

Remember in 2017 when there were predictions that Theranos wouldn't last out the year?

It appears reports of Theranos' death were greatly exaggerated... or maybe not

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Pop Quiz: How many equations are needed (at minimum) to calculate measurement uncertainty?

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

In Biochemia Medica, a recent article detailed the Minimum requirements for the estimation of measurement uncertainty:Recommendations of the joint Working group for uncertainty of measurement of the CSMBLM and CCMB.

Can you guess how many?

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Theranos finally bleeds out...

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

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AACC comments on Proposed New CLIA goals

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

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Sigma Metrics ... Spotted in Chinese EQA Reports.

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

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NY Times Editorial Focuses on Failures in Medical Device Regulation

A recent New York Times Sunday editorial focused on the deplorable state of medical device regulation. We simply can no longer trust FDA clearances, particularly 510ks:

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Six Sigma Metrics ... Surging in China

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

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Thanks, NCCL!

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

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