Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41364922›Full record

ArticleJMIR formative research2025

Development and Implementation of an Internal Quality Control and External Quality Assessment Information System for a Regional Medical Laboratory Center: Pilot Design and Implementation Study.

Dayang Chen, Hongmei Mo, Yingying Zhang, Junlong Qin, Lijun Zhang, Changxian Jiang, Fuming Li, Xiuming Zhang, Tong Ou

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR formative research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Dayang Chen *Department of Medical Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.ORCID 0000-0002-6856-721X
Hongmei Mo *Department of Medical Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.ORCID 0009-0006-3441-8511
Yingying Zhang *Department of Medical College, Shantou University, Shantou, China.ORCID 0009-0000-6354-2761
Junlong QinDepartment of Medical Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.ORCID 0009-0003-4872-2360
Lijun ZhangDepartment of Medical Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.ORCID 0009-0004-3832-0488
Changxian JiangBio-Rad Laboratories (Shanghai) Co, Ltd, Shanghai, China.ORCID 0009-0007-1145-6416
Fuming LiBio-Rad Laboratories (Shanghai) Co, Ltd, Shanghai, China.ORCID 0009-0005-8123-2421
Xiuming ZhangDepartment of Medical Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.ORCID 0000-0002-7971-6444
Tong OuDepartment of Medical Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.ORCID 0000-0002-4872-9621

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe Regional Medical Laboratory Center (RMLC) integrates laboratory departments from hospitals with different levels to optimize resource allocation, enhance testing efficiency, and promote the sharing of professional expertise. Despite these benefits, ensuring consistent quality control (QC) across the RMLC presents a significant challenge due to diverse equipment, procedures, and staff expertise levels. To address these challenges, this study provided an information tool called iLab, developed by Shenzhen Huikang Information Technology Co, Ltd, for managing internal quality control (IQC) and external quality assessment (EQA).

objectiveThis study aimed to develop and implement an integrated informatics platform managing IQC and EQA across RMLC.

methodsWe integrated 4 software programs to manage IQC and EQA, laboratory information system (LIS) supplied by Shanghai Tengcheng Medical Tech-Info Co, Ltd; Quality Control Box (QCBOX) and Quality Control EQA Center (QCEC) provided by Bio-Rad Laboratories (Shanghai) Co, Ltd; and the iLab electronic recording system. The platform centralizes QC data processing, with QCBOX and QCEC handling operational workflows, while iLab oversees documentation, analytics, and approval processes. It was successfully deployed in August 2023 across a pilot network comprising 5 district hospitals, 1 central laboratory, and 4 community health stations in Shenzhen's Luohu District.

resultsBy leveraging the LIS-QCBOX data flow, the platform streamlined the entire IQC process, which incorporated interlaboratory comparisons and iLab-facilitated postanalysis management. Concurrently, EQA was enhanced through electronic documentation, multirule analysis of acceptable data, regional proficiency testing via QCEC, and measurement uncertainty (MU) estimation. By September 2025, the platform supported 114 users, integrating 133 instruments and 859 active QC items, and generated 2331 monthly IQC analysis reports, 340 EQA multirule analyses, and 289 MU reports. Comparative analysis revealed marked improvements in key metrics from 2023 (preimplementation) to 2024 (postimplementation): the IQC implementation rate rose from 97.79% to 99.87% (P<.001), the report error rate decreased from 0.048% to 0.027% (P<.001), and the intralaboratory turnaround time compliance rate increased from 95.49% to 95.71% (P<.001). The annual EQA unacceptable rate dropped from 0.34% in 2023 to 0% in 2024. The number of ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 15189-accredited test items increased from 203 in 2022 to 206 in 2024.

conclusionsThe iLab system establishes a scalable framework for standardized IQC and EQA management in RMLC, demonstrating significant potential to enhance regional laboratory quality.

Indexed as

Clinical Laboratory Information SystemsQuality Assurance, Health CareQuality ControlChinaHumansPilot ProjectsSoftwareexternal quality assessmentinternal quality controllaboratory information systemquality managementregional medical laboratory center

Identifiers

PMID41364922
PMCPMC12728402

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.