1. In the article, Henry (2009) states; “In the context of immunohaematology testing, quality control systems should also be able to detect instrument and human errors such as transcription, transposition and transmission”.
Discuss the meaning of this statement to demonstrate your understanding of types of error. 10 marks (Half a page)
Routine immunoheamatology tests may seem reliable and simple, however,reagent failure and technical errors can and do occur both in manual and automated systems. Very dangerous errors such as transposition and transcription can be made. Transposition errors are caused when staff or instruments pick up and use incorrect sample or reagent or dispense samples or reagents into an incorrect testing position. Mixing up of test materials such as tubes can also cause very serious transposition errors. Transcription errors occur when reaction scores or results interpretation are written or typed in an incorrect result position. Result interpretation can also occur where a test is performed and the reactions are correct but the staff member simply writes an incorrect result. These errors are highly dangerous as they may not be picked up by routine repeat test checking procedures and will not be detected by controls that only test reagent performance. Therefore from the statement above, quality systems should be of high quality to sufficiently detect and shun such errors.
2. Discuss problems inherent in creating quality control materials for immunohaematology 10 marks (Half a page)
The main problem in creating quality control materials for immunohaematology is that samples dealt with involve an integral part of the cell membrane for example. An A or B antigen of a red blood cell. Therefore dilution is not usually an option as the level of analyte is restricted to its natural cell expression and presentation.
3. Imagine you are in charge of a laboratory which performs ABO grouping on donors. Would you purchase Kodecytes as your QC material of choice? Justify your answer. 30 marks (one page)
The application of KODE technology in QC system products enables Group O human red blood cells to be converted to an Aweakbweak cell, providing the worlds first precise and reliable ABO blood groping sensitivity control. The technology is used to create cells with reproducible ,precisely controlled weak expressions of A and B antigens to mimic the reactions of weka A and B cells like Ax and Bx cells, thus eliminating variations seen in natural weak ABO red cells. The technology also enables the engineering of group AweakBweak samples that provide weak reactions in blood grouping systems working correctly.
“Immune Response: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.” National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health. Web. 18 Dec. 2011. .
When test results don’t have accuracy, additional testing may be needed to authenticate the results.
There are four different types of blood; A, B, AB, and O. This is called the ABO blood typing system. All four different types of blood serve the same purpose of transporting nutrients and oxygen throughout the human body. But what makes them different? Blood typing is based on the presence or absence of A and B cell antigens which trigger antibodies. Each kind of blood has it’s own antibody or immunoglobulin, which are proteins produced by the immune system to help stop intruders from invading your body. Therefore,
Other animals like, cats, mice, hamsters, rabbits, pigs, and sheep are also tested in labs, “animal research has played a vital role in virtually every major medical advance of the last century – for both human and animal health. From antibiotics to blood transfusions, from dialysis to organ-...
...ifiable in any patient with the disease, and provides special information associated with staging or anatomic disease extent. The other attribute that make the antigen an ideal tumor cell maker include the fact that it permits for earlier identification of treatment failure resulting in early salvage treatment.
The immune system has the important job of protecting the body from foreign invaders. It is made up of a network of cells (including white blood cells), tissue and organs. The foreign invaders the immune system fight include viruses, bacteria, microbes and pathogens. In order to stop these foreign invaders, there is a process known as immune response that attacks in three different lines of defence. Without this immune response, the body would be constantly under invasion by pathogens trying to attack and induce illness.
... produces can be measured. (Chesney and Folkman, 1999) A positive result is identified by a polymerase chain reaction and the presence of the specific antibody.
Handbook of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests with Nursing Implications (3rd edition). Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company.
This product is being developed to be as an all-purpose red blood cell in which the need for perfectly matching donor to recipient blood would be eliminated. When matching up blood cells they must be identical otherwise the recipient would end up having a serious illness that in some cases are fatal. The all-purpose blood cell acts like a sort of camouflage to the body’s immune defenses that prevent it from being rejected. Even the manner in which the blood donors are now screened has effectively reduced the risk of diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C from being transfused from person to person. Advances such as these continue to be made in every effort to improve the way blood is donated and received by both the patients and blood
They fear that without these test subjects, humans will have no insight to what a chemical may do to them before using it. These fears though, would not be worsened by the elimination of animal testing; according to The Food and Drug Administration, about ninety-two out of a hundred drugs tested on animals, do not have the same reaction in humans. This number makes it clear that animal testing is far more destructive than it is effective. Recently, scientists have been more successful in growing cells of human body parts that can be used as a much better candidates for testing. Testing on an actual human organ rather than one that possesses some similarities clearly has a better success rate. Some of the areas these lab grown cells have majorly helped in include cancers, sepsis, kidney diseases, and AIDS. These new developments provide a logical reason to end animal testing altogether, but, many other factors also push for the end of this
Coughlin, S. S. (2002). Future challenges for research on diagnostic tests: genetic tests and disease prevention. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 56(5), 335-336. doi:10.1136/jech.56.5.335
Westgard, J. O. (2013). Perspectives on Quality Control, Risk Management, and Analytical Quality Management. Clinics in Laboratory Medicine, 33(1), 1-14.
Beckman DXH Hematology analyzers that believe it or not will do the cell count on a
Correction (defects): Adverse drug reactions. Readmission because of inappropriate discharge. Repeating tests because of incorrect information. Waiting Waiting for doctors to discharge patients. Waiting for the test results.
Moreover, It is quite obvious that animal testing has done a lot for medical research in the past, and the use of an animal was needed. The main purpose of animal testing is to “Gain basic knowledge; for fundamental medical research; for the discovery and development of drugs and vaccines and medical advances” (Estimates for Worldwide Laboratory Animal Use in 2005 1). However, while that may have been true in the 1900’s, it is certainly not the case in the 21st century. With technology constantly advancing and expanding, researchers have found other alternatives that do not need a live animal body. Such alternatives, like computer models and in vitro testing, give the same amount of medical research without the nereed of harming an animal. Computer programs use specialized models to help design new products. These generated simulations are used to “predict the various possible biological and toxic effects of a chemical or potential drug candidate” (Alternatives to Animal testing: a review 225). It is unreasonable to assume that in the 21st century, animal testing is still the best option for medical research. With technology currently being used for many medical advances, future discoveries of medical research can and should be made without animal