Flame Photometer Quality Control

Abstract

Many critical patient-care decisions are based on results supplied by the clinical laboratory produced by means of the clinical laboratory instruments like flame photometer which is used to determine the proportion of sodium and potassium for patient's sample, so the effective quality control programs are essential to ensure more accurate results. This study was conducted on a number (10) flame photometers in the period from October 2011 until May 2012 to calibrate the instrumentations in the laboratories of Khartoum State in order to evaluate the efficiency and to calibrate flame photometers, and the study was performed after a questionnaire to laboratories technicians according to the specifications (ISO 15189: 2007 E), to assess the surveyed instruments. The subjected instruments are calibrated by using standards tools and materials which are specified for calibration by the manufacturers. Data were collected before and after calibration procedures and the results of the analysis showed positively variation in the instruments adjustment after calibration, which influenced positively in improving the instruments readings, but statistically there were not significant different which may be due to the sample size. For example, average of the sample sucking rates per minute became 5.86 ml which are located in the standard normal range of sucking rate (4-6) ml per minute as specified by the manufacturer. As well as the after-calibration readings of flame photometer instruments are compared with ISEs readings to determine the accuracy and precision, the analysis showed that the ISEs readings are more accurate and more precise.