Objective The inter-laboratory comparison results of occupational health testing laboratories in Gansu Province were analyzed to evaluate the testing capabilities and quality of occupational health testing laboratories in the province.
Methods Laboratories participating in the inter-laboratory comparison of occupational health technical service organizations in Gansu Province during the period of 2019-2021 were selected for the study, and the test results of the levels of organic substances, metals, and inorganic non-metallic chemicals in the air of the workplaces, metal chemicals in biological materials, and the levels of free silica in dust were statistically analyzed.
Results A total of 272 comparison items were conducted from 2019 to 2021, and 242 items were reported and 220 were qualified, for a qualification rate of 90.9%. The qualification rates of organic substances, metals, and inorganic non-metallic chemicals in the air of the workplaces, metal chemicals in biological materials, and the levels of free silica in dust were 91.4%, 88.6%, 97.9%, 92.9%, and 80.8%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the qualification rate between grade A and grade B institutions or between public and private institutions (P > 0.05). The qualification rate and the number of participating institutions increased year by year over this time, with the qualification rate increasing from 82.69% to 93.48% and the number of institutions increasing from 13 to 28.
Conclusions The testing level of occupational health technical service organization laboratories in Gansu Province was good; however, the overall quality and level of laboratory testing still need to be improved, and investment in and management of various laboratories should be increased.
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