The Westgard Rules

Change is Coming - sooner

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

Earlier this year, we posted an article that was a "heads up" about coming changes to Westgard Web. We are moving everything over to a new server and new "Content Management System."

That time is getting closer and closer. We are beginning to finalize the changes and test the new website.

So, I want to give another warning of the changes...

You know that sensation that comes after cleaning your desk, room, or house, where everything has been put away in its proper place - and you no longer know where anything is at all? You might get that feeling in the new website.

We're adding a lot more navigational aids - "breadcrumb trails", category and section listings, related content listings, etc. It should make the website easier to use for all users. But for those who have grown used to the old website, there will probably be some temporary disorientation.

That said, we're looking for a few good users who would like to volunteer to test and review the new website. Send an email to the usual [email protected] to let me know if you're interested.

Taking a Leap into Measurement Uncertainty

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

We’ve presented a number of discussions on the uncertainty of measurements on this website, including our series on the “War of Words” and also Dietmar Stockl’s more rigorous presentation “Time to engage in measurement uncertainty.”   A central part of these discussions in a debate about the merits of measurement uncertainty vs those of total error.  Rather than rehash the technical points of the argument again, we're going to step outside of our laboratory world for a moment. By looking at another contentious debate, perhaps we can get a better perspective on our own entrenched positions.

It will only take a second...

AACC Show Day 3: The End

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

I think the best comparison I can make to the frenzy of the AACC/ASCLS convention is that it is like a movie production. You spend a great deal of effort in a short period of time around the same people, then abruptly, it's over and everyone goes their own way. It's quite intense and also a bit strange. There are people who live just a few miles from my home and office, but whom I only see when we travel halfway across the country to wherever the conference is.

So what happened? We heard science - and we'll report more on that. We heard gossip. We saw some big things happen (Rhoads software - now owned by Data Innovations). We met a lot of old friends. We missed some people and hope to see more next year in Anaheim.

Last but not least, we picked some Raffle winners...

• Brett Metzler of KSB Hospital in Dixon, IL won a new version of the Westgard QC hat (pictured at right)
• Marianne ST Leung of PathLab Hong Kong also won a new hat
• Clarice Baker of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, from Winnipeg, Canada won a new Westgard QC shirt

Our apologies to those who did not win. Good luck next year!

Note also these are the winners of the Live Raffle from the show. You still have time to enter (this week of July in 2009) the online raffle for all those who couldn't attend the show this year. Download something, buy something, or just send us an email, and you'll also get a chance to win a hat or shirt.

AACC Show Day 2

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

It's become an annual tradition for the Westgard QC corporation to hold a dinner/party at the AACC/ASCLS show  a gathering of friends, distinguished colleagues, and other ne'er-do-wells. Dr. Westgard likes to hold the event at low key restaurants. No fancy steak house - someplace with a good brew instead. Since it was Chicago, we found an Irish pub.

We also found time to celebrate the birthday of one of our honored guests, Stacy Walz, who is member of the University of Wisconsin MT program (more on that soon) as well as the President of the ASCLS chapter in Wisconsin. It's truly a sign of her dedication that she was willing to spend her birthday hanging out with a bunch of old laboratorians. (Stacy is pictured at right with Don Wiebe of the UW Hospital and Clinics).

Dietmar Stockl, David Parry, and Linda Thienpont.
David Parry probably broke the record for the most number of abstracts that involved Sigma metrics this year. Dietmar is the driving force behind STT-Consulting.com which is a great educational resource.

Dr. Jeremie Gras, Jennifer Le Breux, and Dr. Ian Giles.
Jeremie broke the record for the most number of analytes in a single Sigma-metric abstract (over 100). Jennifer and Ian are good friends from Sysmex America.

Finally, here is Stacy getting her Birthday Cake from all of us:

To Stacy's left, among others, are good friends Carl Garber, Paula Santrach, Anders Kallner, and Sharon Ehrmeyer.

AACC Show Day 1

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

One of the nice things about having attended the AACC/ASCLS meetings for more than a decade (for "the" Westgard, it's much more than that) is that you start to see the same people year after year. There are some lab people who live in the next town to mine, but I actually only see them when we travel across the country to wherever the annual workshop is. Sometimes, the meeting feels a lot like a reunion of old friends.

On many people's lips was the concern that attendance was down this year. The convention has definitely felt the impact of the economic downturn, but really, it is still crowded here. The booth was busy all day. People are still doing science. Hospitals and labs still need instruments and methods.

Tuesday morning, I gave a lecture on Sigma-metric analysis of the ARCHITECT chemistry and immunoassay methods [Full disclosure: I was compensated to make this presentation.] As part of this presentation, a white paper on Sigma metrics was distributed to the audience. With any luck, I'll have a link to that soon so anyone else can also view that document.

AACC/ASCLS/CSCC Show Specials

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

The Westgard QC corporation is in Chicago for the AACC/ASCLS/CSCC annual meeting.

We'll be posting  about the show for the entire week, but we wanted to start off by announcing a few specials. Usually, we make specials available to the visitors to the booth at the laboratory exposition. We realized that this year, a lot of people cannot afford to attend the show, so we're making some internet specials available to everyone during this week.

• Special #1: Use coupon code WISHYOUWEREHERE and you'll save 15% off any order over $100 at our online store http://www.westgardqc.com
• Special #2: Anyone who downloads, places an order, or simply sends us an email at [email protected] will be entered in an online Westgard Wear Raffle. Three lucky winners, chosen at random at the end of the week, will win a Westgard hat, shirt, or bag. These unique items are not sold in stores - no store would have them. But for those who like obscure laboratory gear, there's nothing more obscure.

Fine Print for Special #1: one coupon per order, per customer, cannot be combined, online store only, special ends July 25th.

Fine Print for Special #2: void where prohibited, one entry per person, we cannot calculate odds of winning because we have very little idea of who will enter during this week.

More soon from the Annual AACC Laboratory Exposition

Errors in our thoughts on Laboratory Error Rates?

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

A recent abstract from the 2009 IFCC/EFCC (Euromedlab) caught my eye:

Quality Indicators for Laboratory Process; assessment in the Trento Department of Laboratory Medicine.
I Caola, C Pellegrini, N Bergamo, E Saurini, P Caciagli.
CCLM 2009

Examining the quality records of five laboratories, they applied a set of Quality Indicators from the IFCC. Errors were tracked and tabulated. The results are quite interesting.

Q&A: The independence of vendors for QC and EQA/PT?

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

A recent question came in from outside the US, regarding the choice of controls and EQA/PT provider. In such a case, there are often economies gained by choosing the same vendor for both control materials and EQA/PT materials. But the theory of quality control and assurance dictates that you should have independent checks on your processes. Indeed, in some countries, there are regulations which prevent control manufacturers from selling proficiency testing materials for precisely that reason.

This is a difficult issue, one that epitomizes the struggle between efficiency (cost) and safety (quality). 

More after the fold...