CMPT Grading Guideline

PRINCIPLES OF GRADING CMPT CHALLENGES

1. ABOVE ALL ELSE the role of CMPT is to ensure that laboratories are meeting the expectations of a quality informed report.
   1. Acceptable reports on samples should be seen as consistent with good clinical practice, including accurate information that is sufficient for interpretation and appropriate clinical decision making.
   2. Reports that contain errant information, or are missing clinically appropriate information or notes should NOT be assessed as acceptable.
2. CMPT participants should perceive grading as IMPARTIAL and FAIR.
   1. CMPT should grade samples ONLY when there is 80 percent agreement within the reference laboratory group and at least 50 percent of participating laboratories were able to provide an acceptable report. In the absence of two-tiered consensus, the challenge must not be graded (i.e. ungraded result)
3. CMPT grading should be perceived as consistent with CMPT prior practise AND current appropriate medical laboratory practices.
   1. Use of the CMPT Grading Guideline should drive grading practices.
      1. While precedence should be always considered first, in the presence of changing technologies, or changing perspective of clinical awareness and expectation, grading can and should alter.
      2. Where the CMPT committee has flexible alternatives, they should be considered to determine if they are appropriate in a particular situation.
   2. To the extent possible, changes in interpretation and perspective should be taken into consideration when the challenge is being selected BEFORE it is sent to participants
      1. Prior decision can be made to have the sample sent as an UNGRADED EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGE.
4. CMPT participants have the right to challenge CMPT grading and expect a fair re-evaluation of grading

In quality parlance, CMPT is a Quality Partner which means that it exists, first and foremost, to assist laboratories to stay on track with their quality efforts.  If there are no errors detected by CMPT, it is probable that the laboratory is not making errors that impact on patient care.  But if CMPT does detect an unacceptable performance, it is possible that this same error is occurring in clinical samples, and the laboratory has an obligation to check.
CMPT goes to great strides to ensure that its challenge selection, preparation and grading is confidential, as well as, transparent, consistent and fair while current and relevant, and true to our Quality Mission Statement:  Innovation – Education – Quality Assessment – Continual Improvement.