The quality of laboratory analyses in the primary health care. A proficiency survey on hemoglobin, glucose, leucocyte count and sedimentation rate (ESR) measurements.

Freshly prepared quality control materials of different kinds were distributed by cars to all the public health centers, sanatoria and mother and child stations in Oslo. The recipients, who were unaware of the correct values, analysed each sample once without delay and reported the results back to our laboratory. A large variation was found for the measurements of sedimentation rate (ESR) and the counting of leucocytes. For the hemoglobin analyses the precision was relatively good, and also for reflectometrically measured glucose there were few extreme outlayers, though the scatter was rather wide. The accuracy was good for all the analyses. The study clearly demonstrates the need for regular quality control programs for the laboratory work in the primary health care units.