Statistics and S/w mixed for medical labs

LEEDS, England: Recognizing that robust statistical tools are essential for ensuring accurate results for increasingly advanced medical tests, Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and Analyse-it Software, Ltd. (Analyse-it), have announced a new joint venture partnership to combine CLSI’s expertise in developing best practice standards and guidelines for the medical laboratory with the power of Analyse-it’s expertise in developing statistical software.

A press release adds, “Professionals working in medical laboratories around the world use CLSI method evaluation protocols to meet regulatory and accreditation requirements. CLSI volunteers and laboratory professionals have encouraged us to find ways to help them implement our recognized protocols in order to address challenges of increased demands for more complex medical testing with fewer qualified staff. Our partnership with Analyse-it, with its well-established and highly regarded statistical software, will make this goal a reality,” states Glen Fine, Executive Vice President, CLSI.

“We look forward to the day when laboratories will have affordable access to user-friendly, intuitive, and powerful software tools required to perform the statistical analyses for implementation of any of CLSI’s library of standards and guidelines.”

“Many more laboratories will now be able to realize the full value of CLSI standards and guidelines,” says Gerald A. Hoeltge, MD, President, CLSI. “Though this partnership, CLSI and Analyse-it will provide laboratories with powerful tools to perform the studies needed to deliver timely, accurate medical results.”

The synergies of the CLSI and Analyse-it partnership will address issues facing laboratories today, one of which is the shortage of medical laboratory workers with the depth of statistical knowledge needed to cope with the increasing demands of method evaluation. “We’re delighted to partner with CLSI, the global leader in clinical laboratory standards, to provide software to help laboratories easily implement the CLSI protocols. The software will streamline laboratories’ implementation of new test procedures and new equipment, and ensure results are comparable across systems and locations, thus ensuring the quality of patient testing,” says James Huntington, CEO, Analyse-it.