In This Month's Edition

1. Featuring... TD400R Multi Purpose Centrifuge - Special Offer SAVE $200.00!
2. Did You Know...Spot the Difference
3. Meet the Vepa VIP's... Mr Nibblies (The ginger boy)

These two chemistry results appear to be exactly the same. What's more, they were the same sample, run on the same analyser, at the same time.

So, what's the difference? 

Well, its kind of a trick question. You won't spot one. 

So, what's the point, Jack? We're busy! 

The point is that these results have different levels of human confidence in them. What you can't see in this scenario is that the result on the left was run by a properly trained person on a well-maintained analyser in a clinic that complied with their QC protocols, checked their sample quality and understood how the machine works. They knew the variables that might affect the chances of producing a reliable result. And they knew they'd eliminated those variables with their procedures and their attitude towards testing. Those vets and nurses have high confidence in this result.

The result on the right was run by a person without proper training on a poorly maintained machine, in a practice that doesn't always bother running QC and has forgotten all about checking their sample quality. They're too busy for all of that. They just want the machine to work, dammit! Do they also have high confidence in the result? They shouldn't!

But does it matter? The results are the same anyway. Well, it kinda does! Because what happens when the results aren't the same? The clinic that's "too busy" to indulge in best practices around in-house testing will never know! And that's a problem.

The brand of the machine doesn't matter. There is no machine on the market that will produce reliable results when operated by that hypothetical "too busy" clinic mentioned above. It's the people and behaviour that are far more important.

Before you invest in machines, make sure you've invested in the warm bodies operating them, their training, and their empowerment in your practice to do things right.

Here endeth the waffle. Now go run that QC!

- Jack Mainprize, Vepa Business Manager