Sigma Metric Analysis
A 2015 study in Revista de Caldida Asistencial analyzed a new core laboratory chemistry analyzer and the importance of implementing an analytical quality control system.
When a point-of-care device is compared to a core laboratory analyzer, we assume the core laboratory analyzer is always "right". But what if we can't tell whether either the point-of-care method or the core lab method is correct? When methodology is not the same, how do you handle the differences and bias between devices?
A 2014 article in the Nigerian Medical Journal assessed the Sigma-metrics of a chemistry analyzer. The results raise important questions.
A 2015 study compared the performance of two blood gas analyzers with a core laboratory instrument. Can we assume that our modern blood gas results will match the core labs results?
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?