Revista de Métodos de Diagnóstico Médico
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Proficiency Test Feedback Utilization at Government Hospitals Laboratory, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Gurmessa A, Sisay A

Background: Proficiency testing (PT) is the most commonly employed type of External Quality Assurance (EQA) and a tool to measure laboratory performance. Participating in PT is crucial for clinical laboratories that will help the participating laboratory to reduce errors, produce accurate patient test results and most importantly improve patient care by taking corrective action accordingly. The aim of this study is to assess the utilization of PT result in their laboratory Service and Identify challenges related to its utilization effectiveness.

Method: Institutional based retrospective follow-up study was carried out among 12 government hospitals laboratories in Addis Ababa, who had been participated in proficiency testing schemes for 20 clinical laboratory test parameters from 2012 to 2013 G.C. Focused group discussion (FGD) and in-depth interview were conducted to appraise the major challenges of participating institution. Trend of analytical performance scores of institutions were analyzed using SPSS version 20.

Result: A total of 6984 PT challenges or Unacceptable results were noted, there were 5 challenges for each test parameter except CD4 which was committed for 2 challenges were identified. The failure rate from the total of 6, 984 unacceptable findings, the paramount problems were failure to participate, tests suspended during the test event, equipment failure and below liner limit of the analyte were 54.4%, 2.5%, 1.03% and 0.04 % respectively. The overall acceptable analytical performance score were 37.85% and the overall participation rate was 44.7%.

Conclusion: Staff resistance for participating on PT is one of the main challenge with miss understandings on the objectives of PT and not knowing how to interpret and develop an improvement plan based on the feedback, and due to equipment down time and reagent stock out were take the next floor. PT is not utilized effectively among the participated hospital laboratories as of the objective.