Manufacturer |
Variable reagents and analytes |
Standardized or common sources of reagents and analytes |
|
Variable secondary antibodies |
Standardized or common sources of secondary antibodies |
|
Premarketing, beta testing and selling kits |
Wider testing in clinical laboratories before marketing and selling |
|
Quality control and postmarketing surveillance |
Willingness and ability to adjust and to improve kit performance |
Clinical laboratory |
Equipment |
Upgrading and use of equipment to standards |
|
Protocols and standard operating procedures |
Follow manufacturer's protocols |
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Utilize international reference sera |
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Utilize local sera from clinically defined and normal controls to assess performance of kit before adopting into practice |
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Training and maintenance of competence |
Technologist required to demonstrate competence and to participate in appropriate educational forums |
|
Test requisitions and reports |
Should be clear and concise |
|
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Provide clear algorithm of tests provided and approach to use (Fig. 2) |
|
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Design and adopt a universal format |
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Report graded positive results when appropriate or give clinically meaningful cutoff |
|
Physician liaison |
Staff with specific skills serve as primary physician liaison to provide advice and to assist with test interpretation |
Physician |
Ordering tests |
Aware of clinical laboratory capabilities |
|
|
Utilize graded approach to ordering tests (Figure 2) |
|
Receiving tests |
In cooperation with ethics boards, move to digital or electronic receipt of test results while maintaining patient confidentiality |
|
Interpreting result |
If result not understood contact physician liaison at laboratory |
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Communication of results |
Timely action after report received because diseases can progress rapidly |
|
Patient advocate and educator |
If appropriate, enquire about patient's willingness to participate in research |
|
|
Seek informed consent |
Patient |
Accurate historian |
Possess and protect record of current medical history and record important symptoms |
|
Participation |
Consider participation in research studies |
|
|
Review and provide signed informed consent |
|
|
Allow serum to be used for research |
Regulatory bodies |
Quality assurance |
Attention to quality of samples provided for ongoing quality assurance programs |
|
|
Utilize international standards and reference sera |
Health care underwriters |
Budgeting |
Ensure that budget keeps pace with appropriate advances in serology |
|
|
Support the use of tests that have been proven to have an impact on patient care and outcome |
|
Alignment of services |
Ensure that laboratory services are optimized |
|
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Consider impacts of laboratory consolidation on quality of care |