Laboratory site quality control

Based on EHES Manual, Part B. Fieldwork procedures, 2nd edition, 2016 Available at: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-302-701-5 These slides can be used freely, translated and adapted to national use (e.g. concerning the equipment and fieldwork organization).

Quality assurance of blood sample drawing and processing Adequate training for laboratory personnel: theory and practice Understanding the difference between clinical practice and survey fieldwork Competence and commitment to follow protocols carefully Laboratory manual available to the personnel Checking the equipment Auditing and supervision Adherence to the protocol

Theoretical and practical training Theory providing information about Why it is important to take blood samples and how they will be used and stored for future use Why blood sample drawing and processing need to be standardized What implications differences in the protocol have to the measured glucose and lipid levels Practice with several different persons with a wide age range Supervision and feedback

Audit visits Regular audit visits and observations to ensure that protocol is followed correctly Adherence to the standard protocol evaluated

Recording deviations from the manual If blood samples are not obtained, a reason for that should be recorded All other deviations from the manual need to be recorded These recordings should be evaluated by each person drawing and processing the blood samples

Data evaluation during the fieldwork Data on blood samples should be checked regularly for Missing tubes and recorded reasons for that E.g. if some measurer has a lot of missing samples and refusals for the blood drawing, this may reveal that she/he is not properly introducing the blood samples for the participants

Acknowledgement Slides prepared by: Laura Råman, Jouko Sundvall Experiences and feedback from the EHES network have been utilized in the preparation of these slides Funding: Preparation of the slides is part of the activities of the EHES Coordinating Centre which has received funding from the EC/DG SANTÉ in 2009-2012 through SANCO/2008/C2/02-SI2.538318 EHES and Grand Agreement number 2009-23-01, and in 2015-2017 through Grand Agreement number 664691/BRIDGE Health

Disclaimer The views expressed here are those of the authors and they do not represent the Commission’s official position.