JGW COMPUTING

What Is QC-Record?

What Can QC-Record do?

Why use QC-Record instead of other QC packages?

Does it need a powerful PC?

How easy is it to use?

How can I get a demo disc?

Can I try it out for free?

How can I contact the supplier?

JGW Computing main page

What is it?

QC-Record is a menu-driven program that provides a specialised environment for handling all quality control storage needs. It incorporates facilities to store QC data, which can be reviewed in graphical form or as pure data, on screen or as hard copy. Easy to set up, but at the same time very configurable, the program offers the opportunity for the user to define their own quality control rules, although it is supplied as standard with rules based on criteria proposed by Westgard and associates (A Multi-Rule Shewart Chart for Quality Control in Clinical Chemistry. Clinical Chemistry, vol. 27, pp 493-500, 1981). Hardware requirements are low, and it will run as a stand-alone package, or across a computer network.

The main features of QC-Record are summarised below:-

• Immediate analysis of input data by user-defined QC rules
• Will recall, edit, display, summarise and print stored QC results on demand
• Calculates mean and SD for any defined period
• Stores running mean and SD on stored data
• Stores changes in reagents and/or standards
• Essential data stored in dBase format
• User-definable data ranges
• User-definable program configuration (directories, colours, printers, etc.)
• User-definable tests
• Maintains audit trail of changes to QC database
• On-line context sensitive help available, together with a manual
• Backup, restore and archive of essential data
• Password restriction of sensitive data
• Uses extra memory if available
• Automatically network aware
• Direct data entry from some data files
• Un-install option

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Most other quality control programs are restricted in some way. For example:

• they may only be available if you use certain quality control products
• may be tied to a large product purchase.
• some software is designed by software professionals, not laboratory professionals
• some software gives you information overload
• some software buries what you really need in impressive but ultimately useless information.
• much software doesn't allow for perfectly adequate, but slower, computers
• QC software supplied with many laboratory instruments only allows analysis of that instrument's data
• doesn't allow off-line data analysis, such from manual analyses or other smaller instruments.
• much QC software only checks against QC ranges, ignoring long-term trends
• limited storage capacity for QC in many laboratory systems

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QC-Record will run on any PC-compatible computer from an 8088 upwards, provided that it has:-

• At least 460K free conventional memory
• A floppy disc for installation, backups and upgrades
• A hard disc for program and data storage.
• An MDA, CGA, EGA, or VGA colour or mono monitor. Some options in the program automatically detect and can use the higher resolutions available on EGA and VGA monitors.
• MS-DOS 3.3 or above, or equivalent, or Windows 3.1, 3.11, or 95.
• Optionally will run on a Local Area Network which adheres to DOS 3.1 or greater function calls. It has been tested and developed on a LAN running Novell Netware, and in practice will probably run under other popular recent networking software.

The basic program and essential files consume approximately 1 Mb hard disc space when first installed. Storage of results is effectively limited only by hard disc space. 10,000 results require approximately 1 Mb data storage. If space is at a premium, older results can be archived to another medium, e.g. floppy disc, and can still be subsequently retrieved for data analysis.

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QC-Record has been written by laboratory personnel, for laboratory personnel, and is used routinely by all grades of staff in the busy Biochemistry department where it was first planned. It has undergone hundreds of hours of development over several years, including more than 80 upgrades, to shape it into an easy to use system that gives the analysts the information that they require to spot and fix quality control problems.

QC-Record is a DOS-based program, so does not require Microsoft Windows to run, but will work well in a Windows window.

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Yes.

To download a demo program, click on qcdemo.exe (approx. 200k) which gives a flavour of the look and feel of QC-Record.

To extract the demo program, copy the QCDEMO.EXE program into its own directory or floppy disc. Then:

• If using DOS, change to the drive and directory containing QCDEMO.EXE, and type QCDEMO at the DOS prompt to extract the QC-Record demo program from the QCDEMO archive file.
• In Windows 3.x, run File Manager, then double-click on the QCDEMO.EXE file.
• In Windows 95, run Windows Explorer and double-click on the QCDEMO.EXE file.

To run the demo program:

• If using DOS, change to the drive and directory containing DEMO.EXE, and type DEMO at the DOS prompt.
• In Windows 3.x, run File Manager, then double-click on the DEMO.EXE file.
• In Windows 95, run Windows Explorer and double-click on the DEMO.EXE file.

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Yes.

To download a limited but working version of QC-Record, click on qclimit.exe (approx. 500k).

To run the QC-Record Limited Edition:

• create a new directory
• move QCLIMIT.EXE to it
• run QCLIMIT.EXE to extract the quick start guide (QCREADME.TXT) and QC-Record Limited Edition program files.

For fuller information, the complete manual is freely available. To download the manual, which is in Microsoft Word 7 format:

• click on manual.exe (approx. 400k)
• create a new directory
• move MANUAL.EXE to it
• run MANUAL.EXE to extract the manual.

If you are interested further, contact JGW Computing by email from the main page.

All trade marks and registered trade marks are recognised as the property of their owners, and are used for identification purposes only.

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