CUMS and Delta Checks: A Systematic Approach to Quality Control

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

An operational system designed effectively to identify laboratory errors from a wide range of sources is presented. Based upon CUMS, which are the accumulated results of each patient kept in a serial consecutive record, comparisons (Delta Checks) are made between previous results (data base) and current results. Results are challenged for validity when they exceed predetermined limits developed using established standard quality control data. Validity is certified by checking specimen acquisition, quality control data, instrumentation, methodology, transcription, and current and prior clinical status of the patient. Examples of applications of this system in a busy hospital laboratory are presented. The method is ideally applicable to computer technology.