Abstract We present an abbreviated method for conducting large scale quality control (QC) exercises over limited time periods, which was used for examining the proficiency of technicians involved in the electronic Pollen Information Network (ePIN). The goal was for technicians to have their analysis skills evaluated at least twice: (1) by having at least one of their slides successfully checked by other counters in the ePIN network and (2) by successfully examining at least one additional slide from other sites. Success was judged as a relative difference (RDif %) ≤ 30% between the two daily average pollen concentrations. A total of 21 sites participated in the ePIN QC exercise. All of the results for total pollen had RDif % < 30%. Only five results had RDif > 30%, three for Betula and two for Poaceae pollen. Of these, three were slides containing < 40 pollen/m3 daily average and two were for sites that had microscopes with small fields of view and examined < 10% of the slide surface. More than 80% of the participants had at least two slides successfully checked by someone else in the network, and all of the participants had one slide successfully examined. The latter is comparable to a traditional ring test where only one slide is sent to participating sites. The method described here enabled a large number of technicians to be examined in a short period of time and represents a viable alternative to other approaches that can take many months to complete.

中文翻译：

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一种花粉计数器质量控制的简略方法

摘要 我们提出了一种在有限时间段内进行大规模质量控制 (QC) 练习的简化方法，该方法用于检查参与电子花粉信息网络 (ePIN) 的技术人员的熟练程度。目标是让技术人员至少对他们的分析技能进行两次评估：(1) 通过 ePIN 网络中的其他计数器成功检查至少一张他们的幻灯片，以及 (2) 成功检查至少一张来自其他站点的额外幻灯片. 成功被判断为两个日平均花粉浓度之间的相对差异 (RDif %) ≤ 30%。共有 21 个站点参与了 ePIN QC 活动。总花粉的所有结果具有 RDif % < 30%。只有五个结果的 RDif > 30%，三个是桦木，两个是禾本科花粉。这些，三张是日均含 < 40 个花粉/立方米的载玻片，另外两张用于具有小视野显微镜并检查 < 10% 载玻片表面的站点。超过 80% 的参与者至少有两张幻灯片被网络中的其他人成功检查过，并且所有参与者都成功检查了一张幻灯片。后者类似于传统的环形测试，其中只有一张幻灯片被发送到参与站点。此处描述的方法使大量技术人员能够在短时间内接受检查，并且是替代可能需要数月才能完成的其他方法的可行替代方案。超过 80% 的参与者至少有两张幻灯片被网络中的其他人成功检查，并且所有参与者都成功检查了一张幻灯片。后者类似于传统的环形测试，其中只有一张幻灯片被发送到参与站点。此处描述的方法使大量技术人员能够在短时间内接受检查，并且是替代可能需要数月才能完成的其他方法的可行替代方案。超过 80% 的参与者至少有两张幻灯片被网络中的其他人成功检查，并且所有参与者都成功检查了一张幻灯片。后者类似于传统的环形测试，其中只有一张幻灯片被发送到参与站点。此处描述的方法使大量技术人员能够在短时间内接受检查，并且是替代可能需要数月才能完成的其他方法的可行替代方案。