After a reagent lot change, both levels of chemistry control shift above their established means and exceed the laboratory's acceptance limits. Patient specimens are queued but not yet reported. What should the technologist do first?
1Report patient results because both control levels shifted in the same direction, indicating a systematic error that is clinically acceptable and within allowable limits
2Hold patient results and investigate the reagent, calibration, and control process before resuming testing✓ 정답
3Widen the control limits to include the new values, as the shift is consistent across levels and may reflect a new lot of reagent
4Delete the control results and rerun only patient specimens, since the control shift is likely due to a transient error
해설
QC procedures are intended to monitor accuracy and precision throughout testing. When controls are unacceptable, patient reporting must be held while the cause is investigated and acceptable performance is re-established.