"Westgard Rules" - the Poem?

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

For years, we've known that the "Westgard Rules" has generated frustration, tears, and sometimes even curses.

But we never thought it would inspire verses...

In the latest issue of Clinical Chemistry, Usha Anand has written a lengthy ode to the Levey-Jennings chart, and has not neglected the multirule in his rhymes:

"Westgard has put forth guidelines that help us interpret
Conditions ideal for quality assurance that are to be met.
Are we within the limits, or have we strayed out?
Is there a rule that our data happen to flout?"

...

The poem goes on to illuminate, in rhyming couplets, each of the individual "Westgard Rules," finally concluding with this stanza:

"Let us live within the secure towers of Levey-Jenning's fort
And learn to treat the Westgard rules like the castle moat.
As long as you are confined within it, you are safe and sound.
If you step out too often, there is loose soil on the ground."

Read the full poem here (subscription required).

It reminds me that when the annual Quality in the Spotlight conference was running, there was a limerick challenge. That was always fun and a great way to get all these quality professionals to "loosen up." Of course, most of the limericks generated during those conferences couldn't be printed here.

Thanks to Clinical Chemistry and Usha Anand for injecting some levity into the Levey-Jennings chart.