A recent study of current SQC practices in U.S. laboratories found that 21 leading academic laboratories surveyed typically employ two standard deviation (SD) control limits in spite of their known high false rejection rate. It also found that labs generally use a minimum number of control measurements per run (two) and often perform the minimum frequency of SQC, explained James Westgard, PhD, founder of Westgard QC (Am J Clin Pathol 2018;150:96-104). “Based on this survey, it appears that current QC practices are based on mere compliance to CLIA minimums, rather than the best practices for patient care,” Westgard said.
