| Description |
Two standard tests for infectious mononucleosis (the Davidsohn differential and the ox cell hemolysin test) and ten slide tests Monotest (Wampole), Monospot (Ortho), Monosticon (Organon), Diagluto I. M. (Beckman), I. M. Kit (Micro. Res. Corp.), Mono-Diff (Wampole), Bacto-Hetrol (Difco), Monosticon Dri-Dot (Organon), Monophile (BDS) and Rythrotex (BMC) were evaluated as they were used in 50 laboratories within the state of Utah plus two referee laboratories outside the state. The state proficiency testing program for infectious mononucleosis was modified so that the desired evaluation survey data could be obtained. The sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility (within and between shipments) and percent agreement with target results were determined for each test. Factors which might have affected the test results were evaluated to determine which were correlated with good performance. These factors included: formal education of the technologist performing the test, professional affiliation of the technologist, technologist's experience, technologist's area of major interest, type of laboratory, size of laboratory, number of tests performed, use of the test (screen, confirm or both), technologist's experience with the test and procedural differences. Since there is a critical need for evaluation survey data in almost every area of clinical laboratory testing and since there are in existence numerous proficiency testing programs in these areas, it is felt that an enormous amount of valuable information could be relatively easily obtained by similar modifications of existing proficiency testing programs. |
