Korean J Lab Med.  2010 Dec;30(6):726-733. 10.3343/kjlm.2010.30.6.726.

Current Status of External Quality Assessment of Fecal Occult Blood Test

• Yoo SJ
• Cha YJ
• Min WK
• Lee YK
• Chae SL
• Shin BM
• Lim HS

• KMID: 1781682
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3343/kjlm.2010.30.6.726

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Nationwide external quality assessment (EQA) of the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) in Korea was first introduced in 2007-2009. The EQA results were analyzed to assess the current status of FOBT and to plan the continuation of the EQA program.
METHODS
The surveys included 40 hospitals in the preliminary survey conducted in 2007, 249 general hospitals in 2008, and 389 hospitals in 2009. In the surveys, the participating hospitals provided the results of the distributed materials and replies to the questionnaire on the FOBT test procedures and quality controls.
RESULTS
In the surveys conducted between 2007 and 2009, a total of 650 institutes submitted 653 test system results; 3 institutes used 2 kinds of methods. All of the institutes used immunologic methods; 107 institutes (16.5%) used quantitative equipments and 546 institutes (84.0%) used qualitative kits. Most quantitative tests yielded consistent positive or negative results; however, their cut-off and measured values differed according to the equipments used. A low-level material tested in 2007 was negative in the quantitative methods but positive in some qualitative methods because of lower detection limits. The discordance rates among quantitative tests were 3.2% in 2007, 4.4% in 2008, and 0% in 2009 and the rates among qualitative tests were 13.8% in 2008 and 2.6% in 2009. Semi-solid EQA materials showed the ability to evaluate the overall test procedures with acceptable stability.
CONCLUSIONS
In the first Korean FOBT EQA, commercially available EQA materials were proven to be stable. Continuation of the EQA program and further education of laboratory personnel are needed to reduce inconsistency in results. Further, the test kit, procedures, and result reports must be standardized.

Keyword

Fecal occult blood test; External quality assessment; Colorectal neoplasm; Cancer screening

MeSH Terms

Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis
Data Collection
Hemoglobins/analysis/immunology/standards
Humans
Laboratory Techniques and Procedures/instrumentation/standards
*Occult Blood
Quality Control
Questionnaires
Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
Temperature