WBGQ-A CAP Survey

I also called CAP the other day and was told basically the same thing.  I logged a case with them for it, and received an email stating what they told me on the phone (to use pipettes).  I just sent a response to that email with all of my concerns about using pipettes and did ask in my response if it would be appropriate or acceptable by CAP to transfer the contents of the vial into plastic dropper bottles or attach dropper caps to the vials - I want it in writing from them before I go one of these routes.  If/when I receive a response, I will update.

I will be reporting code 11 on my survey as I do not trust the quality of the samples. Better to do that then try to sample and get results that do not match my peers based on the sample quality.

We tried dropper bottles (only had larger ones) = messy and precipitate clogged the tips.  Today we used plain 1 mL syringes (no needles) and it was much neater, but we had to squeeze out precipitate now and then before they tested.  Obviously, it does defeat the point of testing "as a patient".... but it is more like testing as QC with the usual survey droppers!

All,
We also called CAP and filed an official complaint regarding the change in sample containers.  Staff on the floors do not use pippetes and have zero skills with them.  We are a large facility and always reported out the max (30 replicates) for each sample and this simply is not possible with the 2ml of sample.

Recall that this is an analyzer Quality Cross-Check and NOT an actual proficiency survey.  While we (and I suspect most others) were running this in the same manner as a PT survey and having the floor users perform it, this is NOT a requirement.... I would argue it is BEST PRACTICE however.
We are going to have the lab team perform as many replicates on as many different glucometers as possible and call it done.  Hopefully the next shipment will return to the dropper bottles and we will have the floor users perform it as previously done. 

CAP released a "Important Program Information" yesterday regarding this specific survey.

Agree with all that Jeremy noted, above.  It is almost a bit beyond the pale that these samples would be considered acceptable for this platform and be distributed in this format.

For all that are using Code 11 " unable to test"  what will you use or do in its place?  With this being the biannual cross check material- would you test whole blood on an analyzer in the lab ex)Gem 5000 and then test glucometers for comparison?  I'm new-ish to POC and have not encountered this situation yet.
Guidance would be great.