Sigma Metric Analysis
A 2013 study from the Journal of Laboratory Medicine and Quality Assurance evaluated the performance of a Chinese manufactured automated chemistry analyzer running Korean reagent. The study produced a lot of r-values in the 0.99 range. Does this mean the analyzer-reagent combination is better than the west?
A 2014 letter to the editor of the International Journal of Laboratory Hematology evaluated the performance of the Mindray automated hematology analyzer BC 6800. The letter authors concluded this instrument is "good and precise." Does Sigma-metric analysis agree?
The August 2014 issue of the Journal of Clniical Chemistry had not one, but two different articles assessing the quality of different HbA1c methods. In addition to the Lenters-Westra and Slingerland, Woodworth et al performend a Sigma-metric analysis - this time "patient-weighted" - of their own. Do the metrics agree?
Small point-of-care chemistry analyzers continue to enter the market. Is the latest model an acceptable substitute for core lab quality results?
With all the controversy raging over the FDA Draft Guidelines for new glucose meters, let's remind ourselves of the performance that we see currently on the market. In this example, we'll evaluate three different glucose monitoring systems and see if they meet today's goals and possibly tomorrow's tighter goals...