WSLH Toxicology: Blood Lead Proficiency Testing Program

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• Blood Lead Proficiency Testing Program
  
  Beginning in 2008, the liquid blood lead PT program will have a bimonthly format. Testing events will be limited to odd-numbered months, i.e. January, March, May, July, September, and November. Other program aspects will remain unchanged, including the regulatory program component for labs receiving that service. The filter paper blood lead PT program will continue as a monthly program.
  



• Bi-Monthly PT Program
• Report Form
• 2008 Event Statistics
• 2007 Event Statistics



• Regulatory PT Program - January, May and September for those enrolled
• Report Form
• 2008 Event Statistics
• 2007 Event Statistics



• Filter Paper Blood Lead Proficiency Testing Program
• Report Form
• 2008 Event Statistics
• 2007 Event Statistics



• Multielement Proficiency Testing Program
  CDC's Lead and Multielement Proficiency (LAMP) program is a voluntary laboratory standardization program focused on improving the precision and accuracy of blood lead, cadmium, and mercury measurements. In the future, arsenic and selenium measurements will be added to the program. Specimens are prepared and shipped from the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene and results are reported to CDC. To enroll in the LAMP program, contact the WSLH at 608-224-6252 or visit the CDC’s website   http://www.cdc.gov/labstandards/lamp.htm.
  

The erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP) proficiency testing program administered at WSLH for many years has been discontinued as of January 2008.  Alternative proficiency testing programs for EP are administered by the New York and Pennsylvania Departments of Health. Though administered primarily for laboratories seeking state clinical licensure, both programs have agreed to accept participants in need of proficiency testing for EP.  The contact information for these programs is listed below:

The nationwide Blood Lead Proficiency Testing Program is a cooperative program designed to improve the accuracy and precision of blood lead measurements, primarily in laboratories, health departments, clinics, and other agencies involved in childhood lead poisoning screening. The blood lead programs are administered by the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene and funded by grants from the U.S. Public Health Services Maternal and Child Health Bureau for liquid blood and from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention for filter paper blood. The Blood Lead Programs are approved PT Programs under the Health Care Financing Administration/CLIA 88 requirements. New participants can enroll by phone, fax, or e-mail. To enroll, or for additional information, contact Program staff at (608) 224-6252. The fax number is 608-224-6259, and the program email address is toxpt@mail.slh.wisc.edu.

• Blood Lead PT Frequently Asked Questions
• Blood Lead Proficiency Testing Program Policies
• 2008 Blood Lead PT Shipping Schedule

Links

• The WSLH offers proficiency testing for a number of analytes.
• The CDC’s Lead and Multielement Proficiency (LAMP) program is a voluntary laboratory standardization program that focuses on whole blood multi-element quality assurance.