We currently use a procedural control for our manual cell counts.  We are currently CAP certified, but are switching to Joint Commission.  One of their Standards states that for manual cell counts, one level of QC for every 8 hours of testing is performed and documented.  Does anyone accredited by Joint commission use procedural controls?

We do indeed run wet controls when we do cell counts on the hemacytometer.  We use Streck Cell-chex.  JCAHO noted that we needed to do this a few inspections ago.  Once every 8 hours when testing patients.

(Not sure what you mean  by a procedural control vis a vis manual cell counts...)

Scott

our procedural control is correlation of the cell count with the cellularity of a stained slide.  CAP allows this.

Really?  So if there are cells on the slide and cells on the hemacytometer then you are good for QC?  Those CAP dudes are far-out! Crazy Man!

Scott

Yes!  There are guidelines that correlate the cell count with the cellularity of the cytospin.

We will be switching from CAP accreditation to Joint commission.  June will be our first inspection.  This is why I am asking about the QC.

21 hours ago, dtreadway said:

Yes!  There are guidelines that correlate the cell count with the cellularity of the cytospin.

 

I would think that it would have to be arbitrary to the point of uselessness, but what do I know?

In any event, we are not CAP certified but have been inspected by JCAHO forever.  I am pretty sure you will need cell-count QC like mentioned above.  You can always check your inspection standards when you get a copy!

Scott

We us a body fluid control from R&D when doing a cell count on a hemacytometer. There are 2 levels in the control kit, we alternate levels when we get a fluid. The tech who is doing the count is also required to do one level of QC.

 

Lisa

Thanks for the input.  I checked with Joint commission, and they do not accept the procedural control.  I have been working on updating my policies etc. to comply.