Performance Characteristics of Several Rules for Self-interpretation of Proficiency Testing Data

Abstract Context.—Proficiency testing (PT) participants can interpret their results to detect errors even when their performance is acceptable according to the limits set by the PT provider. Objective.—To determine which rules for interpreting PT data provide optimal performance for PT with 5 samples per event. Design.—We used Monte Carlo computer simulation techniques to study the performance of several rules, relating their error detection capabilities to (1) the analytic quality of the method, (2) the probability of failing PT, and (3) the ratio of the peer group SD to the mean intralaboratory SD. Analytic quality is indicated by the ratio of the PT allowable error to the intralaboratory SD. Failure of PT was defined (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988) as an event when 2 or more results out of 5 exceeded acceptable limits. We investigated rules with limits based on the SD index, the mean SD index, and percentages of allowable error. Results.—No single rule performs optimally across the...