Managing Clinical Performance
Quality Control
Quality assurance is provided by regularly performing both internal and external quality controls.
Internal quality controls are usually done by performing an INR test on a reagent with a known INR. These reagents are obtained from the supplier of the NPT instrument.
External quality control is performed by comparing the INR produced by your practice instrument with that of a hospital laboratory using the same blood sample. Most hospital haematology laboratories will provide this service.
A formal system of external quality control can be provided by NEQAS.
| Internal quality control log | Allows you to record and audit results of the tests you regularly perform on "known value" QC material supplied by the manufacturer of your test equipment. |
| External quality control log | This facility allows you to record and audit results obtained from your equipment on "unknown value" quality assurance samples and compare them with consensus values obtained from an external source. E.g., from the National External Quality Assurance Service. (UK NEQAS). |
| INRstar Point Prevalence feedback | It is often useful to practices if they know how they are performing relative to other practices. As part of our on-going commitment to customers, we provide a point prevalence comparison service whereby users can compare their performance with other (anonymous) users of INRstar four times a year. Their is no additional cost beyond the standard support arrangements. |
