What's New: March 2009

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

Here's what's been posted on Westgard Web this month:

First, Do No Harm:
A Safety Net to Catch Analytic Errors
Risk Management standards are on the way. Some of the old QC techniques are going to be replaced by these new methods. That's all well and good, but in the end, you still need a way to catch those errors that slip through. Dr. Westgard explains how to balance the best of the old with the best of the new.

High Reliability Testing: Sensitivity to Operations
In our next lesson on High Reliability, we discuss the need for laboratories to treat "routine" tests as anything but routine. How does your laboratory handle the crush of data and detail in its daily operation - and still be sensitive to possible signs of failure?

Westgard Sigma Analysis: 4 Glucose methods
Tight Glycemic Control is one of the latest trends in laboratory medicine - one that requires fast, frequent, and precise testing. A recent paper studied four different glucose methods, one POC, 2 blood gas, and one central laboratory hexokinase method. Can you guess which methods performed the best, and what methods were good enough to support TGC?

We're also running a special on our updated online short course: "Westgard Rules" and Levey-Jennings charts. Order it through the online store http://www.westgardqc.com and use the coupon "RULESANDCHARTS" and you'll save $20 off the registration (our usual fine print: one per customer, per order, cannot be combined, online store only, ends 3/19/09) It takes about one business day to process your order and send you an email with your login and password.

If you need urgent access to the course, or just want to find out more and read the description, go to http://www.westgard.org/index.pl?op=show;isa=Program;iid=23868