Short communication, Note

https://doi.org/10.11613/BM.2018.020904

Evaluating analytical quality in clinical biochemistry laboratory using Six Sigma

Xuehui Mao ; Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
Jing Shao ; Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
Bingchang Zhang ; Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
Yong Wang ; Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years, Six Sigma metrics has become the hotspot in all trades and professions, which contributes a general procedure to
explain the performance on sigma scale. Nowadays, many large companies, such as General Healthcare, Siemens, etc., have applied Six Sigma to clinical
medicine and achieved satisfactory results. In this paper, we aim to evaluate the process performance of our laboratory by using Sigma metrics,
thereby choosing the correct analytical quality control approach for each parameter.
Materials and methods: This study was conducted in the clinical chemistry laboratory of Shandong Provincial Hospital. The five-months data of
internal quality control were harvested for the parameters: amylase (AMY), lactate dehydrogenase (LD), potassium, total bilirubin (TBIL), triglyceride,
aspartate aminotransferase (AST), uric acid, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea, sodium, chlorine,
magnesium, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine (CRE), total protein, creatine kinase (CK), total cholesterol, glucose (GLU), albumin (ALB). Sigma
metrics were calculated using total allowable error, precision and percent bias for the above-mentioned parameters.
Results: Sigma values of urea and sodium were below 3. Sigma values of total protein, CK, total cholesterol, GLU and ALB were in the range of 3 to
6. Sigma values of AMY, uric acid, HDL-C, TBIL, ALT, triglyceride, AST, ALP and CRE were more than 6.
Conclusion: Amylase was the best performer with a Sigma metrics value of 19.93, while sodium had the least average sigma values of 2.23. Actions
should be taken to improve method performance for these parameters with sigma below 3.

Keywords

Sigma metrics; total allowable error; quality control; bias

Hrčak ID:

201535

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/201535

Publication date:

15.6.2018.

Visits: 2.117 *