The interview with Dr. Wayne Dimech and Joe Vincini from Australia’s National Serology Reference Laboratory (NRL) delves into the challenges of applying traditional quality control (QC) methods, such as Westgard Rules and Six Sigma metrics, to serology testing. They argue that serology assays often produce non-Gaussian data distributions, rendering these conventional QC approaches ineffective. Instead, they advocate for QC strategies specifically tailored to the unique characteristics of serology tests.

This discussion stems from a series of publications proposing the adaptation of Six Sigma metrics for serology QC, which Dimech and Vincini have critically evaluated in their own research. Their findings suggest that while Six Sigma may be suitable for certain analytical contexts, it may not adequately address the complexities inherent in serology testing. The interview underscores the importance of developing QC methodologies that are aligned with the specific analytical and clinical nuances of serology assays.