Zahnd R, Stirn M, Hofmann-Lehmann R, Riond B
Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich.
Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd. 2020 Mar;162(3):163-173. doi: 10.17236/sat00250.
The extent to which Swiss veterinary practitioners follow the guidelines for quality assurance of the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ASVCP) for point-of-care (POC) testing is unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the availability, application, and quality management of POC analyzers in Swiss veterinary practices/clinics. For this purpose, we created an online questionnaire on laboratory equipment, quality management, and biosafety, which all members of the Society of Swiss Veterinarians (GST) were invited to complete. In total, 192 clinics/practices participated, of which 69% had automated POC analyzers, mainly for clinical chemistry (99%) and/or hematology (86%). Sample analyses and equipment maintenance were mostly performed by veterinary technicians (81% and 68%, respectively). Reference intervals were adopted from manufacturers (80%) or literature (17%). The results showed that most participants perform basic internal quality control (chemistry: 75%; hematology: 86%), and many use at least two levels of quality control material (47%-48%). Controls are mostly run once a month (chemistry: 36%; hematology: 35%) or ≤4 times/year (36% and 25%). Only three clinics/practices reported participation in an external quality assessment program; comparative testing was more common (chemistry: 42%; hematology: 52%). Only one-quarter of the participants stated that they make use of the data generated through internal and external quality control measures. In conclusion, POC analyzers are widely available in Swiss veterinary clinics/practices, and internal quality control is performed to some extent. However, quality assessment and management and biosafety awareness and measures need to be improved, ideally with the support of clinical pathologists.
瑞士兽医从业者遵循美国兽医临床病理学会（ASVCP）即时检测（POC）质量保证指南的程度尚不清楚。因此，本研究的目的是评估瑞士兽医诊所/诊疗机构中POC分析仪的可用性、应用情况及质量管理。为此，我们创建了一份关于实验室设备、质量管理和生物安全的在线问卷，并邀请瑞士兽医协会（GST）的所有成员填写。共有192家诊所/诊疗机构参与，其中69%拥有自动化POC分析仪，主要用于临床化学检测（99%）和/或血液学检测（86%）。样本分析和设备维护大多由兽医技术人员进行（分别为81%和68%）。参考区间采用制造商提供的（80%）或文献中的（17%）。结果显示，大多数参与者进行基本的内部质量控制（化学检测：75%；血液学检测：86%），许多人至少使用两级质量控制材料（47%-48%）。质控大多每月进行一次（化学检测：36%；血液学检测：35%）或每年≤4次（36%和25%）。只有三家诊所/诊疗机构报告参与了外部质量评估计划；对比检测更为常见（化学检测：42%；血液学检测：52%）。只有四分之一的参与者表示他们利用了通过内部和外部质量控制措施产生的数据。总之，POC分析仪在瑞士兽医诊所/诊疗机构中广泛可用，并且在一定程度上进行了内部质量控制。然而，质量评估与管理以及生物安全意识和措施需要改进，理想情况下需要临床病理学家的支持。
