What is the purpose of Westgard rules in quality control?

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Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of Westgard rules in quality control?

Westgard rules provide a clear set of decision criteria for interpreting quality control data. They tell you when a run is acceptable or when it should be rejected or investigated, based on predefined rules applied to control results. By using these rules, the laboratory can detect issues such as bias (a systematic shift), imprecision (random scatter), or a sustained shift or trend over time. The strength of the approach is that it looks at patterns across multiple control measurements rather than a single value, helping to catch real problems without overreacting to normal random variation. This keeps patient results reliable. They are not about calibrating instruments, monitoring reagent shelf life, or determining reference ranges.

Westgard rules provide a clear set of decision criteria for interpreting quality control data. They tell you when a run is acceptable or when it should be rejected or investigated, based on predefined rules applied to control results. By using these rules, the laboratory can detect issues such as bias (a systematic shift), imprecision (random scatter), or a sustained shift or trend over time. The strength of the approach is that it looks at patterns across multiple control measurements rather than a single value, helping to catch real problems without overreacting to normal random variation. This keeps patient results reliable. They are not about calibrating instruments, monitoring reagent shelf life, or determining reference ranges.

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