Results Reporting System

About

The Result Reporting System (RRS) has been developed by the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) for the data monitoring of its serology and NAT quality control (QC) reagents. These include the Quality Control Reagent Unit (QCRU) and Clinical Virology Network (CVN) reagents. The system has been successfully running for serology assays for several years collecting thousands of data points a year. The system has recently been developed to accept data for Nucleic Acid-based Technologies (NAT) reagents and associated assays.

Data Entry

This web-based application allows users to enter data for the NIBSC reagents they have used in their assay. It provides a helpful step by step wizard to guide users from the specifics of the reagent and assay, to the entry of QC results.

Serology Summary

• The serology data entry wizard allows the user to capture data about the assay, lot and how it was performed (i.e. manually or automated platform).
• If the laboratory has multiple platforms running side by side, RRS can also save data to a specific platform and later analyse this independently.
• Up to approximately 150 data points can be entered in one submission. There are 3 methods including excel upload.

NAT Summary

• There are 3 NAT data entry wizards to fit with the type of assays a lab performs
  1. In-house – Add your specific parameters, including extraction method, probes, primer/probe sequences, and amplification details etc.
  2. Commercial – capture independent commercial extraction and amplification assays, lots and platforms
  3. Fully Automated Commercial – For all- in- one assays containing reagents for the extraction and amplification.

• RRS can accept data for multiplex reagents. Simply toggle the viral marker before saving your data. If you have several to input, they can all be done in one submission.
• Data is simply uploaded from an excel template. The data can be review before saving to the database.

Further details can be found in the user manual (link)

Result Analysis

RRS can provide real-time data analysis. Simply use the step by step wizard to filter your data and create your chart instantly.

RRS currently offers:

• Intra-lab charts – Plot data against Westgard rules, giving you a visual prompt if a rule has been violated and alerting you to investigate.
• Inter-lab bell curves - Allows a laboratory to compare anonymously with other laboratories running the same reagent and assay.

Intra-lab charts: plots your data over time showing any flags
where data violates the Westgard rules.

Inter-Bell curve: illustrates where your data sits compared to
other labs using the same reagent and assay

• Instrument performance - Enter data for different automated platforms that run side by side for the same assay. The data can be plotted independently of the other automated platforms and compared for differences in performance

• Box plots - compare results against other laboratories running the same reagent across assays. This provides a good understanding of other assays used in the field and how they compare in sensitivity. These plots can also highlight laboratory performance if comparing the same assay against another laboratory.

Box plots: shows your data per assay for a selected reagent. Hover over a box plot to find out more

Exporting and managing data

The software package also provides secure online storage for all your data in one place. 

RRS can export to Excel for external data analysis and storage. The export function can also provide specific filtering for a more refined export of the data you want to look at or store offline.

Feature Summary

• intuitive wizard to enter large volumes of data
• real-time analysis of data
• compare data anonymously against other laboratories (bell curves and box plots)
• quality control for assays using Westgard Rules
• export feature - store your data online all in one place – accessible from any computer
• reduced risk of human error

Other Benefits

It’s Free

RRS is free to use with any NIBSC run control your laboratory orders from NIBSC. The system requires no software or plugins to run, simply open in your browser and use anywhere.

Our admin team is on hand to assist with any queries or required updates to the system.

ISO 15189 requirements

RRS can help laboratories comply with the new guidelines under ISO15189:2012 (medical laboratories - requirements for quality and competence; encourage laboratories to participate in an inter-laboratory comparison programme), specifically 5.6.3.1  Inter-laboratory comparisons - participation:

“The laboratory shall participate in an inter-laboratory comparison programme(s) (such as an external quality assessment programme or proficiency testing programme) appropriate to the examination and interpretations of examination results. The laboratory shall monitor the results of the inter-laboratory comparison programme(s) and participate in the implementation of corrective actions when predetermined performance criteria are not fulfilled.”

Future development

The system is still undergoing development and new features will be added in the near future. Please send your feedback and suggestions to rrs@nibsc.org.

Log into Result Reporting System