Abstract
Quality control surveys are important in assuring standardization and comparability of laboratory data among hospitals in a region. In Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, tests of quality control began in 1972 and about 200 labs have participated. Among these, about 120 laboratories have performed tests of quality control related to blood transfusion, of which about 10% failed to detect ABO and Rho (D) blood typing using the same samples given every year since the beginning of the survey. The reasons for failure were not determined. Further, no guidance or improving the results was given to these laboratories.
Therefore, we (members of the quality control committee) decided to inspect five laboratories which failed these tests in 2005 and 2006 to learn the reasons for their failures. We discovered that four out of the five laboratories employed inexperienced technicians with poor knowledge of testing. Moreover, some technicians did not belong to the association of laboratory technicians and therefore received no information updates, nor any systematic introduction to advances in laboratory techniques. Finally, the laboratory equipment used for testing was not well maintained in three of the five laboratories. We advised each laboratory after inspection on how to improve its testing procedures.
