Standardization of medical terminology is essential in data transmission between health care institutes and in maximizing the benefits of information technology. The purpose of this study was to standardize medical terms for laboratory observations. During the second year of the study, a standard database of concept names for laboratory terms that covered those used in tertiary health care institutes and reference laboratories was developed. The laboratory terms in the Logical Observation Identifier Names and Codes (LOINC) database were adopted and matched with the electronic data interchange (EDI) codes in Korea. A public hearing and a workshop for clinical pathologists were held to collect the opinions of experts. The Korean standard laboratory terminology database containing six axial concept names, components, property, time aspect, system (specimen), scale type, and method type, was established for 29,340 test observations. Short names and mapping tables for EDI codes and UMLS were added. Synonym tables were prepared to help match concept names to common terms used in the fields. We herein described the Korean standard laboratory terminology database for test names, result description terms, and result units encompassing most of the laboratory tests in Korea.
Clinical Laboratory Information Systems/*standards ; Humans ; Laboratory Techniques and Procedures/*standards ; *Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes ; Terminology as Topic ; *Unified Medical Language System

BACKGROUND: One of the major concerns with biobanking is the absence of standard operating procedures to eliminate pre-analytical variation arising from sample collection, preparation, and storage. Currently, there is a lack of tools to carry out quality control procedures for stored blood samples. The aim of this study is to assess the quality of stored blood samples in our biobank and to suggest appropriate indicators for their quality control. METHODS: The stored blood samples that we tested have been registered into our biobank since 2003. These were transferred to our biobank after carrying out routine requested tests, because the samples would have otherwise been discarded. For the purpose of quality control, we analyzed the concentrations and the integrity of DNA and RNA extracted from the stored samples and tested the levels of several serum proteins; the results were compared with the corresponding pre-storage levels. RESULTS: A total of 19 samples were stored from 2006 to 2009. Of the 22 samples stored between 2003 and 2005, 50% showed complete DNA integrity. However, sufficient RNA integrity was noted in only 1 sample stored as recently as 2009. High blood urea nitrogen levels were also noted in the stored sera, but the increase did not correlate to the duration of storage. CONCLUSIONS: The amount and integrity of nucleic acids extracted from stored blood samples are potential indicators that can be used for quality control. A guideline for the quality assessment of stored blood samples in a biobank is urgently needed.
Blood Banks/*standards ; Blood Proteins/chemistry/standards ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; DNA/*analysis/chemistry/standards ; Laboratory Techniques and Procedures ; Quality Control ; RNA/*analysis/chemistry/standards ; Specimen Handling/methods

BACKGROUND: Nationwide external quality assessment (EQA) of the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) in Korea was first introduced in 2007-2009. The EQA results were analyzed to assess the current status of FOBT and to plan the continuation of the EQA program. METHODS: The surveys included 40 hospitals in the preliminary survey conducted in 2007, 249 general hospitals in 2008, and 389 hospitals in 2009. In the surveys, the participating hospitals provided the results of the distributed materials and replies to the questionnaire on the FOBT test procedures and quality controls. RESULTS: In the surveys conducted between 2007 and 2009, a total of 650 institutes submitted 653 test system results; 3 institutes used 2 kinds of methods. All of the institutes used immunologic methods; 107 institutes (16.5%) used quantitative equipments and 546 institutes (84.0%) used qualitative kits. Most quantitative tests yielded consistent positive or negative results; however, their cut-off and measured values differed according to the equipments used. A low-level material tested in 2007 was negative in the quantitative methods but positive in some qualitative methods because of lower detection limits. The discordance rates among quantitative tests were 3.2% in 2007, 4.4% in 2008, and 0% in 2009 and the rates among qualitative tests were 13.8% in 2008 and 2.6% in 2009. Semi-solid EQA materials showed the ability to evaluate the overall test procedures with acceptable stability. CONCLUSIONS: In the first Korean FOBT EQA, commercially available EQA materials were proven to be stable. Continuation of the EQA program and further education of laboratory personnel are needed to reduce inconsistency in results. Further, the test kit, procedures, and result reports must be standardized.
Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis ; Data Collection ; Hemoglobins/analysis/immunology/standards ; Humans ; Laboratory Techniques and Procedures/instrumentation/standards ; *Occult Blood ; Quality Control ; Questionnaires ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Temperature