1. Horace Gumba KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme
The role of the External Quality Assessment in evaluating laboratory’s staff competency
Horace Gumba
KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme

2. Background
EQA : An external assessment of a laboratory performance in comparison to its peer and/or to accuracy based reference system.
EQAs are blinded samples
EQAs are analysed as routine patient samples
EQA can be used for:
Educational purposes
Assessment of laboratory performance against set standards
Comparing laboratory performance against peers
Provides evidence that a laboratory is competent to produce reliable and accurate results.
EQA interprets best practice standards into a numerical score.

3. Objective of the study
To assess staff competency and performance of KEMRI-Wellcome Trust STAT laboratory using past EQA material

4. Methodology
Past EQA materials were used in evaluating staff competency.
The existing standard operating procedure (SOP) for training and competency of laboratory staff was used as a guidance.
Previous EQA reports of RCPA and UKNEQAS from were reviewed.
Three lab sections (STAT lab, Haematology lab section and Clinical Chemistry lab section) were reviewed for performance comparison.
Competency assessments for 6 STAT lab staff, 7 Haematology lab section staff and 3 Clinical Chemistry lab staff were done to compare the three lab sections EQA performance

5. Table 1: STAT Lab against Clinical Chemistry lab section
RCPA EQA chem
RCPA EQA passed
% pass RCPA EQA
UKNEQAS chem
Passed
% pass UKNEQAS
Average performance
STAT Lab 48 35
72.9 41
85.4
79.2
Clinical Chem 30
62.5
67.7
TOTAL 96 75
78.1 76
78.6

6. Table 2: STAT Lab against Hematology lab section
RCPA Haem
RCPA EQA passed
% pass RCPA EQA
UKNEQAS Haem
UKNEQAS Haem passed
% pass UKNEQAS
Haem
Average performance
STAT Lab 48 40
83.3 44
91.7
87.5
Hematology 37
77.1 41
85.4
81.3
TOTAL 96 77
80.2 86
89.6
84.9

7. Fig 1: Performance Comparison between STAT Lab and Clinical Chemistry sections
STAT Lab ( 72.9%, 85.4%) had better performance when compared to Clinical Chemistry lab section (62.5%, 72.9%)
STAT had an average of 79.2% and Clinical Chemistry 67.7%

8. Fig 2: Performance comparison between STAT Lab and Haematology Lab sections
STAT Lab still had better performance (83.3%, 91.7%) when compared to Hematology lab section (77.1%, 85.4%).
STAT Lab had an average of 87.5% while Hematology had 81.3%

9. Comparison of staff competency levels of the three lab sections
STAT Lab 87%
Haematology lab section 57%
Clinical Chemistry lab 33%

10. Recommendations
The QA communicated to laboratory supervisors to implement the use of past EQA materials in assessing competency.
The training and competency Standard Operating Procedure to capture the use of EQA in assessing staff competency

11. Conclusion
STAT laboratory section had excellent performance in the EQA schemes than the other 3 laboratory sections.
STAT laboratory performed 87% on both reports, clinical chemistry laboratory section scored 81% while Hematology laboratory section scoring 80% .
STAT Laboratory better EQA performance due to its high number of competent staffs .
More confidence by KEMRI-Wellcome Trust users on STAT Laboratory
EQA can be used to assess staff competency as well as earning international recognition in relation to quality standards.(STAT Lab is GCLP accredited)

12. Acknowledgements
The STAT Lab, Hematology and Clinical Chemistry laboratory supervisors.
The staffs of KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Clinical Trials Laboratory.
The Laboratory manager for clinical trials laboratory.

13. THANK YOU