Proficiency Testing/Quality Assurance Program for Provider Performed Microscopy Procedures
Provider Performed Microscopy Procedures (PPMP) include the following non-waived Laboratory tests:
Q0111 - Wet mounts, including preparations of vaginal, cervical or skin specimens
Q0112 - All potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparations
Q0113 - Pinworm examinations
Q0114 - Fern test
Q0115 - Post-coital direct, qualitative examinations of vaginal or cervical mucous
81015 - Urinalysis; microscopic only
81000 - Urinalysis, by dipstick or tablet reagent for bilirubin, glucose, hemoglobin, ketones, leukocytes, nitrite, pH, protein, specific gravity, urobilinogen, any number of these constituents; non-automated, with microscopy
81001 - Urinalysis, by dipstick or tablet reagent for bilirubin, glucose, hemoglobin, ketones, leukocytes, nitrite, pH, protein, pecific gravity, urobilinogen, any number of these constituents; automated, with microscopy (NOTE: May only be used when the lab is using an automated dipstick urinalysis instrument approved as waived.)
81020 - Urinalysis; two or three glass test
89055 - Fecal leukocyte examination (Effective: January 1, 2004)
G0027 - Semen analysis; presence and/or motility of sperm excluding Huhner
89190 - Nasal smears for eosinophils
CLIA requires that laboratories ensure the accuracy of testing and that the Laboratory verify the accuracy of any test or procedure. This requirement is addressed in 42 CFR 493.1236 and 42 CFR 493.1239. In addition, State Laboratory regulations require laboratories that only perform PPM procedures to establish a Quality Assurance Program that includes the requirement to verify the accuracy of testing at least every 6 months This requirement is addressed in 59A-7.029(3)(b), Florida Administrative Code.
There are two methods of satisfying this requirement. The method your lab uses must be outlined in the Laboratory’s policy and procedure manual and made available to the Agency for Health Care Administration or CLIA Laboratory Program upon request. It also must be reported biennially in your non-waived Laboratory renewal application or in any initial application submitted to establish a new PPMP Laboratory.
1. Peer Review. Every six months a Laboratory would split a patient specimen and create two slides for review. These slides would be reviewed by two qualified testing personnel members (MD, DO, DPM, DDM, CNM, ARNP, PA) and the results of each review documented. The Laboratory director then evaluates the test reports to determine that the same interpretation was made by each provider. Corrective action is required and must be documented on any reports that do not correlate.
The Laboratory should perform peer review based on a number of slides representative of the Laboratory’s annual testing volume for each PPM procedure. This should include if possible at least one positive and one negative (or one normal and one abnormal) sample. If there are two physicians performing testing in the Laboratory, both should be involved in this program.
In laboratories in which there is only one qualified person, the Laboratory would need to establish a relationship with another licensed Laboratory performing the same testing.
2. Enrollment with a Proficiency Testing Company. Many Proficiency Testing (PT) companies offer a limited number of PT samples for “unregulated” tests. CLIA classifies PPMPs as “unregulated”. You may elect to enroll with a company that offers a Microscopy PT program. Following is a list of PT programs that offer PPM Modules:
- ACCUTEST https://www.digitalpt.com/HealthMetrx/public/prepareHome.do
- American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) https://www.aafp.org/family-physician/practice-and-career/managing-your-practice/pt-lab-testing.html
- American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB) https://www.aab-pts.org
- American Proficiency Institute (API) https://api-pt.com
- College of American Pathologists (CAP) https://www.cap.org/laboratory-improvement/proficiency-testing
- Medical Laboratory Evaluation (MLE) https://www.acponline.org/running_practice/mle/
- Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH) https://www.slh.wisc.edu/pt/
This is not an endorsement of any PT testing company
If you elect to enroll with a PT company, you can determine accuracy based on the scoring of your PT samples. Please note: You may not send these PT samples out of the Laboratory for any reason. This is considered PT Referral and is prohibited under CLIA.
Regardless of the method, you must keep a copy of all PT/Quality Assurance records for a minimum of two years. These records include: procedures for PT sample preparation and handling, PT sample testing procedure, PT program submission forms, PT program evaluation reports, and any corrective action documentation.
