Comparison of the use of a dry chemistry analyser in primary care in Norway and the United Kingdom

Abstract

The results of a quality assessment survey of the most commonly used dry chemistry instrument in primary care in Norway and the United Kingdom, the Reflotron (Boehringer), are reported including an evaluation of some of the operational characteristics of the Reflotron users. The primary care users in Norway taking part in the study comprised 95 occupational health care departments and 89 general practices. In the UK, primary care users taking part were 95 occupational health care departments and 37 general practices. In terms of both accuracy and precision evaluation of concentrations of bilirubin, cholesterol, gamma-glutamyl transferase, glucose, triglycerides, urea and uric acid by primary care users was similar in the two countries, and to that of 60 Norwegian laboratories. Examination of operational characteristics revealed a lack of effective quality control measures in both countries, and some differences in the pattern of usage between primary care users in Norway and the UK, especially in general practice. The result of Reflotron tests were ready before the patient left in a considerably higher proportion of general practices in the UK than in Norway. It is concluded that the Reflotron is suitable for primary care use, but good, routine quality of analysis must be ensured through collaboration between primary care users and clinical chemists.