General Chemistry
The General
Chemistry Division of the SKML organizes a score of schemes within medical
laboratories in the field of general chemistry. For information about the
individual schemes you can click on the relevant buttons on this page. Using the
“Specifications” button on the Homepage you can find out in which scheme an analyte
for which you are searching has been included. Requests to participate in a scheme
are handled by the SKML-office. The SKML-office also provides general
information about the organization of the schemes, the Q-base system via which
the results are submitted and the costs of participation. Invoicing is also
carried out by the SKML-office.
Design of the Schemes
The design for the majority of the schemes
is identical and is based upon a yearly cycle with annually-related sets of 12
or 24 samples. The sample material is commutable, wherever possible, and
the annual set covers the relevant analytical range. The target values of the
samples are, where possible using the principles of metrological traceability, set
according to JCTLM-accepted reference methods by JCTLM-accepted reference
laboratories. Additionally (and also where reference methods are not available)
method specific consensus values are used. Reporting occurs at three levels of
information communication. There is a continuous intermediate report accessible
on demand by the user. Secondly, the participant is sent an electronic report
quarterly. Lastly, at the completion of the yearly cycle an annual report is
sent with correctness, precision and linearity together with scores based on
biological variation and state-of the art.
Objectives
- The
primary objective of the General Chemistry Division is the performance
assessment of individual laboratories based on criteria derived from biological
variation. Assessment occurs with respect to the methods specific to, more or
less, the instrument group, as well as with respect to all the participating
labs. The “Poor Performer Policy” of this division aims to improve the poor
performance of individual laboratories.
- In
addition the design of the schemes is set up so that the performances of the
analytical methods can be compared and poorly performing methods can be
identified. The “Poor Method Policy” of this division is designed to encourage
the developers of underperforming methods to improve their methods.
- Moreover,
the design is such that parameters wherein the entire field performs poorly
(large interlab variation) can be identified. The “Poor Analyte Policy” of this
division aims, via education, scientific research, harmonization projects and
the provision of reference materials, to improve the quality of poorly measured
parameters.
- Transfer
of knowledge is promoted by the submission of annual reports and the
organization of participant meetings.
- The
managerial organization of the division is such that the quality of the schemes
are controlled: a) there is a multi-year management plan supplemented with an
annually drafted year plan, b) the schemes coordinator provides accountability
to the division management at the end of the yearly cycle and c) the division
provides an annual report to the general management team of the SKML.