Biomedical subjects

J K Duckworth

Publications and source records attributed to J K Duckworth.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1988

Proficiency testing. Its role in a voluntary clinical Laboratory Accreditation Program.

The author's long experience as Chairman of the Laboratory Accreditation Program of the College of American Pathologists provides the background for this article. Laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing have now become an established part of the clinical laboratories in the United States. This article attempts to demonstrate the relationship between proficiency testing and accreditation, and highlights some of the current problems and future challenges facing proficiency testing as pertains to accreditation.

Academies and Institutes↗

PubMed1987

Review of proficiency testing performance of laboratories accredited by the College of American Pathologists.

The Commission on Laboratory Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), Skokie, III, monitors the proficiency testing of accredited laboratories by regular review of the Cumulative Survey Management Report. Analytes are targeted for review on the basis of repeated "unacceptable" results in the CAP Survey Program. Approximately 1% of proficiency testing results are repeatedly graded unfavorably. Directors of 271 Great Lakes Region laboratories reported the causes of and the corrective actions taken for 583 targeted results over a two-year period. Targetting of results in 31% was attributed to methodologic or instrumentation problems, 19% to technical performance factors, and 27% to clerical errors. Only 3% were ascribed to the Survey materials or to the criteria used for grading, and 20% of the problems remained unexplained after investigation. There was improvement in 496 (88%) of 583 targeted. During the study period, results from 96% of laboratories showed improved performance for all or a majority of the targeted analytes.

Accreditation↗

PubMed1982

Correlation of leukocyte esterase detection and the presence of leukocytes in body fluids.

The Chemstrip-L test was evaluated in 249 body fluids for its ability to detect leukocytes. Three of 42 cerebrospinal fluids were positive for leukocyte esterases, of which all three were cases of culture-confirmed bacterial meningitis. After the addition of predetermined numbers of neutrophils, the lowest level of detection of neutrophils in cerebrospinal fluids was 40 per microliter. Seventy-five of 200 (38%) peritoneal fluids had positive leukocyte esterase tests. Sixty-six of 72 (89%) peritoneal fluids with 100 or greater neutrophils per microliter had positive leukocyte esterase tests. Protein content, if increased, may interfere with the results of the L-test.

Ascitic Fluid↗

PubMed1981

Enhanced growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the presence of selenium.

The present investigation found that the rate of growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was enhanced in the presence of sodium selenate. Stock cultures of M. tuberculosis streaked onto media containing sodium selenate showed visible colonies within three days, compared with 12 days on media without selenate. The optimum concentration for enhancement by sodium selenate was found to be 5 microgram/ml.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

PubMed1981

Facial abscess due to group L streptococcal infection.

A Lancefield group L streptococcal infection was found in a previously healthy male adult during a survey of beta-hemolytic streptococci. The infection was apparently acquired subsequent to a mild injury to the face and contact with soil. Treatment with cephalothin and cephalexin was successful after surgical drainage of the wound abscess.

Abscess↗

PubMed1973