From the point view of quality assurance

Abstract

 Fundamental concept of quality assurance in specific health checkup and specific health guidance is that same examination results should be obtained regardless of time or laboratories. For this purpose, standardization of examination items and quality assurance in measurement are indispensable. As for standardization, standard materials of all parameters in specific health checkup had been developed before specific health checkup has started, traceability has been taken using these material. Moreover, sharing of test results between laboratories in some area or related hospitals is also being attained. About quality control, many institutions participate in external quality control surveys held by Japan Medical Association etc. and the records of them are quite good. However, it is said that cribbing serves as a background with such excellent results of these surveys, some improvements in operation methods of them are expected in future. The most important thing, however, is reconfirmation of original meaning of an external quality control survey, we must enlighten it.
 Furthermore, in order to obtain exact test results in specific health checkup, not only quality management of measurement itself, but quality management from before collecting samples to after measurement is required, therefore procedures before taking medical checkup or pre-analytical procedures after sample collection are directed in specific medical checkup.
 In plasma glucose measurement, sodium fluoride (NaF) has been used as an glycolytic inhibitor, however, the inhibition effect of NaF alone is not sufficiently immediate, the blood sample for glucose measurement is to be refrigerated in specific medical checkup. In these days, the blood container including citric acid with NaF, which quickly suppress glycolysis, has been spreading, and other inhibitors of glycolysis are being investigated also, these blood collection tubes (glycolytic inhibitor) will be considered to be used more widely from now on.
 The reconsideration of items included in specific health checkup, urine glucose is raised as reevaluation of its necessity. If we don't take expense into consideration, I think urine microalbumin and serum cystatin C are candidates as new items from the cardio-renal correlation.