Sullivan County Memorial Hospital Laboratory

Summary Statement of Deficiencies D2014 TESTING OF PROFICIENCY TESTING SAMPLES (b)(6) The laboratory must document the handling, preparation, processing, examination, and each step in the testing and reporting of results for all proficiency testing samples. The laboratory must maintain a copy of all records, including a copy of the proficiency testing program report forms used by the laboratory to record proficiency testing results including the attestation statement provided by the PT program, signed by the analyst and the laboratory director, documenting that proficiency testing samples were tested in the same manner as patient specimens, for a minimum of two years from the date of the proficiency testing event. This STANDARD is not met as evidenced by: Based on review of proficiency testing (PT) records for 2024, 2025 and to date 2026 and interview with the technical supervisor (TS) #2, the laboratory failed to maintain copies of all PT records including attestation statements for two of eight PT testing events. Findings: 1. Review of PT records for 2024 showed the laboratory could not provide attestation statements for the following proficiency testing events: 2024 Association of Bioanalysts Medical Laboratory Education (AAB-MLE) M1 2024 AAB-MLE M2 2. Interview with the TS #2 on March 18, 2026 at 12:00 PM confirmed the laboratory could not provide attestation statements for two PT testing events in 2024. D5215 EVALUATION OF PROFICIENCY TESTING PERFORMANCE CFR(s): 493.1236(b)(2) The laboratory must verify the accuracy of any analyte, specialty or subspecialty assigned a proficiency testing score that does not reflect laboratory test performance (that is, when the proficiency testing program does not obtain the agreement required for scoring as specified in subpart I of this part, or the laboratory receives a zero score for nonparticipation, or late return or results). Statement of Deficiencies (X1) Provider/Supplier/CLIA Identification Number (X3) Date Survey Completed Name of Provider or Supplier Street Address, City, State -- 1 of 10 -- This STANDARD is not met as evidenced by: Based on review of 2024, 2025 and to date 2026 proficiency testing (PT) results, and interview with the technical supervisor (TS) #2, the laboratory failed to evaluate PT results that did not reflect laboratory test performance for one of eight PT events. Findings: 1. Review of American Proficiency Institute (API) PT records showed no

Summary Statement of Deficiencies D5447 CONTROL PROCEDURES CFR(s): 493.1256(d)(3)(i)(g) Unless CMS Approves a procedure, specified in Appendix C of the State Operations Manual (CMS Pub. 7), that provides equivalent quality testing, the laboratory must-- At least once a day patient specimens are assayed or examined perform the following for-- Each quantitative procedure, include two control materials of different concentrations; (g) The laboratory must document all control procedures performed. This STANDARD is not met as evidenced by: Based on review of laboratory procedures, Ortho Diagnostic Vitros 5600 chemistry analyzer quality control (QC) from November 1, 2023 to date November 29, 2023, patient results, and interview with the general supervisor (GS) #1, the laboratory failed to include two acceptable control materials of different concentrations for aspartate transferase (AST) for 1 of 29 patient testing days. Findings: 1. Review of laboratory procedure "Quality Control Protocol", states "Re-assay out-of-range Control, even if no cause has been determined." 2. Review of the Ortho Diagnostic Vitros 5600 chemistry analyzer quality control (QC) from November 1, 2023 to date November 29, 2023 showed two acceptable levels of AST QC was not performed on November 13, 2023. 3. Review of patient results showed the laboratory reported 12 AST patient results while QC was not acceptable. 4. Interview with the GS #1 on November 29, 2023 at 9:00 AM confirmed the laboratory failed to include two control materials each day of patient testing for AST. D5469 CONTROL PROCEDURES CFR(s): 493.1256(d)(10)(g) Unless CMS Approves a procedure, specified in Appendix C of the State Operations Manual (CMS Pub. 7), that provides equivalent quality testing, the laboratory must-- Establish or verify the criteria for acceptability of all control materials. (i) When Statement of Deficiencies (X1) Provider/Supplier/CLIA Identification Number (X3) Date Survey Completed Name of Provider or Supplier Street Address, City, State -- 1 of 2 -- control materials providing quantitative results are used, statistical parameters (for example, mean and standard deviation) for each batch and lot number of control materials must be defined and available. (ii) The laboratory may use the stated value of a commercially assayed control material provided the stated value is for the methodology and instrumentation employed by the laboratory and is verified by the laboratory. (iii) Statistical parameters for unassayed control materials must be established over time by the laboratory through concurrent testing of control materials having previously determined statistical parameters. (g) The laboratory must document all control procedures performed. This STANDARD is not met as evidenced by: Based on review of Vitros 5600 chemistry quality control (QC) records, and interview with the technical supervisor (TS), the laboratory failed to establish criteria for acceptability of control materials providing quantitative results. Findings: 1. Review of the Vitros 5600 chemistry QC records showed the laboratory did not establish, document, and define statistical parameter criteria (mean and standard deviations) for acceptability of quantitative chemistry QC. 2. Review of the Vitros 5600 chemistry analyzer showed cholesterol level 1 QC range of 100.84-113.96 mg/dL. The laboratory could not provide documentation for establishment of the QC range. 3. Review of the Vitros 5600 chemistry analyzer showed cholesterol level 2 QC ranges of 255.9-281.3 mg/dL. The laboratory could not provide documentation for establishment of the QC range. 4. Interview of the TS on November 29, 2023 at 10:00 AM confirmed the laboratory failed to establish criteria for acceptability of control materials providing quantitative results. D5545 HEMATOLOGY CFR(s): 493.1269(b)(d) (b) For all nonmanual coagulation test systems, the laboratory must include two levels of control material each 8 hours of operation and each time a reagent is changed. (d) The laboratory must document all control procedures performed, as specified in this section. This STANDARD is not met as evidenced by: Based on review Instrumentation Laboratory ACL Ellite analyzer quality control (QC), patient results, and interview with the technical supervisor (TS), the laboratory failed to include two levels of control material each 8 hours of operation for prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) for November 1, 2023 to date November 29, 2023. Findings: 1. Review of Instrumentation Laboratory ACL Elite analyzer QC from November 1, 2023 to date November 29, 2023 showed QC was not performed every eight hours for two of twenty-nine testing days. 2. Review of patient results showed three patient PT results and three patient PTT results were released when QC was not performed. 3. Interview with the TS on November 29, 2023 at 10:00 AM confirmed the laboratory failed to perform two levels of PT and PTT QC each 8 hours of operation. -- 2 of 2 --

Summary Statement of Deficiencies D5401 PROCEDURE MANUAL CFR(s): 493.1251(a) A written procedures manual for all tests, assays, and examinations performed by the laboratory must be available to, and followed by, laboratory personnel. Textbooks may supplement but not replace the laboratory's written procedures for testing or examining specimens. This STANDARD is not met as evidenced by: Based on review of the blood bank procedure manual, blood bank refrigerator alarm activation records for 2018 and to date 2019 and interview with the general supervisor, the laboratory failed to follow the procedure for performing quarterly blood bank refrigerator alarm activation. Findings: 1. The blood bank procedure manual states,"Low and high alarm activation: Done quarterly." 2. Review of blood bank refrigerator alarm records revealed the laboratory performed low and high alarm activation procedure less frequently than quarterly (three months). Records showed the laboratory performed the low and high activation procedure once every four months. 3. On interview November 13, 2019 at 11:30 AM, the general supervisor confirmed the laboratory performed the low and high activation procedure less frequently than quarterly as stated in the procedure manual. D5417 TEST SYSTEMS, EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS, REAGENT CFR(s): 493.1252(d) Reagents, solutions, culture media, control materials, calibration materials, and other supplies must not be used when they have exceeded their expiration date, have deteriorated, or are of substandard quality. This STANDARD is not met as evidenced by: Statement of Deficiencies (X1) Provider/Supplier/CLIA Identification Number (X3) Date Survey Completed Name of Provider or Supplier Street Address, City, State -- 1 of 2 -- Based on observation of coagulation reagent, patient records for November 2019 and interview with the general supervisor, the laboratory failed to ensure recombiplastin reagent in use for prothrombin time patient testing had not exceeded the expiration date. Findings: 1. Observation of coagulation reagent revealed one opened box with three vials of recombiplastin reagent, lot number N1072885, expired October 2019 and in use November 13, 2019. 2. Review of patient records from November 1, 2019 and to date November 13, 2019 revealed seven patient prothrombin time tests were performed using expired recombiplastin reagent. 3. Interview on November 13, 2019 at 11:30 AM the general supervisor confirmed the recombiplastin reagent expired and was in use for patient prothrombin time testing. -- 2 of 2 --