Surveys of the Routine Work of Clinical Chemical Laboratories in 116 Scandinavian Hospitals

Abstract

In 3 consecutive surveys of the routine work of 116 clinical chemical labora tories in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, 15 non-enzymic compo nents were determined with reasonably good precision and accuracy, whereas 5 enzymes were determined with an unacceptable degree of variation. In the latter case systematic errors appeared to play a dominant role. Results are presented indicating that considerable improvement of the enzyme assays could be obtained if all laboratories agreed upon the use of one enzyme solution as reference standard.

Key Words:

• Accuracy
• clinical chemistry
• enzyme determination
• precision
• quality control