Analysis of Biochemical Parameter's Performance by Using Sigma Metrics at CIMS, Chikkamagaluru-A Retrospective Study

Background: Usually, laboratory outliers have negative connotations with the reports which can impact the patient’s health concomitantly. Sigma metrics is a structured tool to assess laboratory defects. Objective: To analyze the laboratory biochemical parameter’s performance through Sigma metrics & by Quality Goal Index whose sigma metrics are less than 3. Materials & Method: A retrospective study of External Quality Control & Internal Quality Control for a period of six months from January 2024 to June 2024 at Chikkamagaluru Institute of Medical Sciences, Chikkamagaluru. A total of nine parameters which included- glucose, Urea, Creatinine, Total Bilirubin, Total Protein, Uric acid, Albumin, Total Cholesterol, and Triglycerides were assessed. Percentage Bias was calculated from EQC. Co-efficient variation was calculated from IQC. Total allowable error (TEa) was obtained from CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) guidelines. Thus, Sigma Metrics were calculated from the Co-efficient of Variation, Percentage Bias & Total Allowable Error. Results: Uric acid and triglycerides had Sigma of 4.63 & 3.5 respectively which indicates better performance and rest parameters like glucose, urea, creatinine, Total protein, albumin & total bilirubin had less than 3 sigma which indicates poor performance. Conclusion: Sigma metrics help to analyze the performance of various biochemical parameters in clinical laboratories. Thus, our study showed that lack of precision, which was assessed by the Quality Index Goal, is the one that contributes to poor performance.