Predicted effects of proposed tightened acceptance criterion for Pb proficiency testing (PT) on PT sample pass rates for Pb point-of-care testing

► Pb PT acceptance criterion are ± 4 μg/dL (current) vs. ± 2 μg/dL (proposed). ► Current POCT PT sample failure rates are approximately 5% for Pb < 20 μg/dL. ► New criterion would increase POCT PT sample failure rates up to 35%. ► Current criterion identify PT sample failures due mainly to systematic error only. ► New criterion force PT sample failures due mainly to random error/imprecision.