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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, November 2000, p. 4266-4268, Vol. 38, No. 11
0095-1137/00/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Quantitative Gram Stain Interpretation Criteria Used by Microbiology Laboratories in Alberta, Canada

Deirdre Church,1,2,* Elizabeth Melnyk,1 and Barbara Unger1

Laboratory Proficiency-Testing Program, College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta,1 and Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary,2 Alberta, Canada

Received 17 April 2000/Returned for modification 26 June 2000/Accepted 11 August 2000

Microbiology laboratories in Alberta, Canada, were surveyed to determine the quantitative interpretive criteria used to routinely read and report Gram stains. There was a wide variability in the quantitative reporting criteria cited for both cells and bacteria, with only 11 of 32 (34.4%) laboratories surveyed using the criteria recommended by the external proficiency-testing program. Lack of standardized criteria not only poses a problem in the grading of proficiency testing results but may also impact the quality of patient care.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Calgary Laboratory Services, 1638 10th Ave. S.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3C 0J5. Phone: (403) 209-5281. Fax: (403) 209-5347. E-mail: deirdre.church{at}cls.ab.ca.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, November 2000, p. 4266-4268, Vol. 38, No. 11
0095-1137/00/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Munson, E., Block, T., Basile, J., Hryciuk, J. E., Schell, R. F. (2007). Mechanisms To Assess Gram Stain Interpretation Proficiency of Technologists at Satellite Laboratories. J. Clin. Microbiol. 45: 3754-3758 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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