Westgard QC

05/27/2026

This month's Westgard newsletter tackles the trouble behind hematology performance. A growing number of papers are finding that CLIA 2025 goals are very hard to hit. Did CLIA go too far? Are instruments not up to the demand? Is reality in conflict with the goal? This, plus other articles on Europe's attempt to undo IVDR, and the prospect of imposing "desperation premiums" in laboratory testing.

In April 2026, we reached a total of 82,000 laboratory professionals belonging to the website membership. For over 30 years, Westgard QC has offered free lessons, essays, applications, training and tools on all things laboratory quality. We're thankful so many of you have walked with us on this path...

05/27/2026

Recently benchmarked an anonymous hematology analyzer detailed in a paper from Indonesia. Completely understand why they didn't disclose the name of this instrument...
https://westgard.com/blog/indonesian-hematology-analyzer-that-cant-hit-anything.html

05/18/2026

I came across a "mini-review" of Six Sigma in clinical biochemistry:

"[T]he available evidence supports Six Sigma as a powerful analytical tool for performance evaluation rather than a standalone, comprehensive quality management solution....Six Sigma should not be viewed as a replacement for broader quality assurance systems....When used as a complementary analytical tool embedded within a comprehensive quality management strategy, Six Sigma can significantly strengthen laboratory performance and promote a culture of data-driven quality improvement."

I don't disagree with these conclusions, but I think we should differentiate "analytical Sigma metrics" from "Six Sigma" in general. The mini-review is looking at analytical Sigma metrics, not the broader quality management system of Six Sigma. I also agree that larger Six Sigma approach is always best as a complement, not a replacement to anything.

https://www.jpediahealth.org/abstractArticleContentBrowse/JPHS/162/1/1/44987/abstractArticle/Article

04/29/2026

One of our strategic partners is hosting a webinar on new QC software. We encourage to join them and see features that have never been available before in a QC program. Analytical sigma metrics have never been easier to implement with LabLink 360.

Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time.

04/29/2026

Your Lab Week Hangover, 2026 - https://mailchi.mp/westgard/labweek-hangover-2026

04/27/2026

For those of you who enjoyed all the celebrations of Medical Laboratory Professional's Week last week, today is the day you return to your regularly scheduled programming of over-work, under-resources, and maximum TAT pressure, here's something that will only exacerbate your hangover:

https://westgard.com/essays/trends/lab-week-hangover-2026.html

03/19/2026

Are you missing that unique something special? That thing that elevates your lab above all others? Perhaps by attending the next Westgard webinar, you'll be entered into a raffle where you can win the coveted Westgard bobblehead.
https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_-uYXJvNsQlmm6oN_FltJ3Q

More than 900 of your laboratory colleagues are already registered!

03/17/2026

When is a 4:1s not a 4:1s? It depends on which set of Westgard Rules you are using. If you are using the 1981 "classic" Westgard Rules, you need to see a 1:2s violation _before_ you can interpret the 4:1s rule. So the top image here, while it does indeed include 4 values outside 1s, would not be considered a violation of the 4:1s rule under the "classic" rules. But the second example, since the last point breaches the 2s line, _is_ considered a 4:1s violation under "classic" conditions.
In contrast, under more modern Westgard Rules, where we have eliminated the 1:2s warning rule completely, both examples would be considered violations of the 4:1s rule.
If you want to get more tips and insights like this, attend our Westgard Rules 45th anniversary celebration this Thursday, https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-uYXJvNsQlmm6oN_FltJ3Q

03/17/2026

What's 45 years old and still frustrating labs? - https://mailchi.mp/westgard/45-years-of-westgard-rules

02/25/2026

Coming soon: the 45th anniversary of the Westgard Rules.
March 19th, 11:00 central standard time.

For over 45 years, the Westgard Rules have provided a valuable addition to the quality toolbox of every laboratory. Nearly ubiquitous in software and instrumentation around the world, the Westgard Rules are well known, even if not well understood.

As the decades have gone by, the laboratory has changed dramatically, but to many, the Westgard Rules have remained carved in stone. As time has passed, skills have declined and memories have lapsed, and many rules being currently implemented are contrary to how the Westgard Rules are intended to be used.

In this celebratory webinar, we will revisit the history of the Westgard Rules, have an in-depth talk with the man himself, James O. Westgard, and discuss how Westgard Rules have evolved, with the Westgard Sigma Rules now representing the most modern recommendation.

Thanks to the generous support of Thermo Fisher Scientific, MAS Controls, and LabLink, registration for this webinar is FREE.

In March of 1981, a little known paper by an upstart PhD from the University of Wisconsin made a big splash. He introduced the "multirule QC procedure" which would come to be known as "Westgard Rules." Over 45 years, the Westgard Rules have provided a valuable addition to the quality toolbox of ever...