Scribd
Upload
49 views2 pages

Understanding Westgard Rules for QC

Westgard Rules are a set of statistical patterns used for laboratory quality control to identify potential inaccuracies in measurement systems. There are six specific rules that help detect random and systematic errors in test results, guiding corrective actions when violations occur. These rules are essential for ensuring the reliability of patient test results in laboratory testing programs.

Uploaded by

ahmadjamilmohiiddin
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
49 views2 pages

Understanding Westgard Rules for QC

Westgard Rules are a set of statistical patterns used for laboratory quality control to identify potential inaccuracies in measurement systems. There are six specific rules that help detect random and systematic errors in test results, guiding corrective actions when violations occur. These rules are essential for ensuring the reliability of patient test results in laboratory testing programs.

Uploaded by

ahmadjamilmohiiddin
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Zagazig University

Faculty Of Science
Biochemistry Department

Westgard Rules
Prepared by:
Reem Ebrahim Ramadan

4th year

Special Biochemistry

Supervisor:
Dr/ Heba Aladdin

What is Westgard Rules?


 The Westgard rules are a set of statistical patterns, each being unlikely to occur by random variability, thereby raising a suspicion of

faulty accuracy or precision of the measurement system. They are used for laboratory quality control, in "runs" consisting of

measurements of multiple samples. They are a set of modified Western Electric rules, developed by James Westgard and provided in

his books and seminars on quality control.

 For convenience, we adopt a short hand notation to abbreviate different decision criteria or control rules, e.g., 12s to indicate 1

control measurement exceeding 2s control limits. We prefer to use subscripts to indicate the control limits, but other texts and papers

may use somewhat different notation (e.g. 1:2s rather than 12s) Combinations of rules are generally indicated by using a "slash"

mark (/) between control rules, e.g. 13s/22s.

The Six westgard Rules :


1. 1_2s Rule – A warning rule to detect potential issues : One control measurement exceeds 2 standard deviations (SD) from the mean.

2. 1_3s Rule – A rejection rule : One control measurement exceeds 3 SD from the mean (identity random error).

3. 2_2s Rule – A rejection rule: Two consecutive control measurements exceed 2 SD on the same side of the mean (detect systematic error).

4. R_4s Rule – A rejection rule: The difference between two control measurements is greater than 4 SD (one high, one low; confirme random

error).

5. 4_1s Rule – A rejection rule: Four consecutive control measurements exceed 1 SD on the same side of the mean (monitor systematic trends).

6. 10_x Rule – A rejection rule: Ten consecutive control measurements are on the same side of the mean (Recognize systematic shifts).

Westward rules
application :
 These rules are used in
Quality Control (QC)
programs for
laboratory testing.
 If a rule is violated, corrective actions such as recalibration, troubleshooting,
or reanalyzing samples may be required.
 They help ensure the reliability of patient test results.

You might also like