DIAG208-0809: The Veterinary In-Clinic Laboratory: Quality Concepts for Biochemistry Testing

INSTRUCTORS:
Kathleen P. Freeman, DVM, BS, MS, PhD, DipECVCP, MRCPath, MRCVS, Certificate in Laboratory Quality Management (University of Wisconsin)
In conjunction with the European College for Veterinary Clinical Pathology, Committee for Laboratory Standards
Mark Rishniw, BVSc, DACVIM (Internal Medicine & Cardiology)

DATES:
August 16 - October 25, 2009
Real-time sessions: Sundays, August 16, 23, 30, September 6, 13, 20, break for data analysis, final session on October 18; 3:00 - 4:00 pm ET (USA)

Course Description

Objectives of the course:

1. Introduce participants to principles and concepts fundamental to Quality Assurance and Quality Control within the veterinary in-clinic laboratory.
2. Provide participants with the knowledge and tools to encourage assessment and improvement of quality within the in-clinic laboratory.
3. Provide participants with knowledge and tools to conduct statistical QC for their in-clinic biochemistry analyzer.
4. Characterize the performance capability of in-clinic biochemistry analyzers and reference laboratory analyzers by having participants run Quality Control Materials (QCM1-3) on their analyzers daily for 5 days and by submitting QCM to be run as "patient samples" by their own reference laboratory.
5. Provide information about performance capability of in-clinic analyzers in general, and specifically for participants in the course.
6. Provide information about analytes which are suitable for statistical QC for in-clinic laboratories using appropriate QC.
7. Provide recommendations for ongoing quality assessment for biochemistry analyses within the in-clinic laboratory.

COURSE OUTLINE:

Week 1 (August 16):

• Definitions of quality
• Standards of Quality
• Laboratory instrumentation for biochemistry analyses
• How we look at quality in laboratory instrument performance

Week 2 (August 23):

• Instructions for running QCMs to characterize your in-clinic instrument performance
• Interactive tool for looking at TE
• Introduction to statistical and non-statistical QC
• Statistical QC
• Pilot data from in-clinic and reference laboratories

Week 3 (August 30):

• Starting QCM analysis
• Principles of Quality Systems for In-Clinic Laboratories
• Quality Concepts

Week 4 (September 6):

• Quality Concepts, continued

Week 5 (September 13):

• Index of Individuality
• Reference Change Values/Critical Differences
• Specific types of testing

Week 6 (September 20):

• Specific testing, continued
• Future of Quality in In-clinic Laboratory Testing
• Introduction to Sigma metrics

Break for data analysis

Week 7 (October 18):

• Summary of Data Analysis and Reports for Participating Clinics

MESSAGE BOARD DISCUSSIONS:
Discussions will begin on the start date of the course and continue for 7 days following the last real-time session.

CE HOURS: 7

TUITION:
FREE but participants enrolled in this course are responsible for the cost of running tests in their in-clinic laboratories. Please contact CEonVIN@vin.com for information about these costs.
Please contact CEonVIN@vin.com BEFORE signing up for this course.
Course is not open to veterinary students.

Required Textbook: None

Recommended Textbooks: None

For More Information on VIN's Upcoming CE Courses, check out https://www.vin.com/CE/Catalog.htm

"This course has been submitted (but not yet approved) for 7 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE approval; however participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/or restrictions on certain methods of delivery of continuing education. Call VIN at 1-800-700-4636 for further information."

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COURSE WITHDRAWAL AND REFUND POLICY: Withdrawal prior to the listed start date of a course entitles the registrant to a complete refund or a credit toward a future VIN CE course, whichever is preferred. Withdrawal within 1 week after the listed start date (i.e. including no more than one real-time session) entitles the registrant to a credit toward any future VIN CE course. (Does not apply to courses with only one real-time session.) After the first real-time session, a registrant may withdraw due to special circumstances and receive prorated credit towards a future VIN course. These requests will be handled on an individual basis. The amount of the prorated credit will be determined based on 65% of the time remaining in the course at the time of withdrawal. It is not possible to withdraw retroactively.

Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you call the VIN office at 1-800-700-INFO.

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Debbie Friedler
Coordinator
Continual Education Division
Veterinary Information Network
CEonVIN@vin.com

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800.700.4636  |  CEonVIN@vin.com  |  530.756.4881  |  Fax: 530.756.6035 777 West Covell Blvd, Davis, CA 95616 Copyright 2002, Veterinary Information Network, Inc.