Method of analyzing medical specimens with improved length of analytical run determination

A method of controlling analyzing patient medical specimens in an analytical run, each specimen having a selected characteristic and a number representative of said characteristic, said method comprising:

• (a) analyzing, on an analyzer, a plurality of said patient medical specimens to obtain, for each specimen, the number representative of said selected characteristic of said specimen;
• (b) determining a size shift to be detected in said number, said size shift being a target value shift;
• (c) determining a mean from at least some of said numbers;
• (d) determining a size shift to be detected in said mean in order to detect said target value shift, said size sift in said mean being a preselected amount;
• (e) determining whether said mean shifts by said preselected amount;
• (f) providing a control material containing said selected characteristic and being of known properties;
• (g) determining expected control values for said control material when said control material is analyzed on said analyzer;
• (h) ending said analytical run if said mean shifts by said preselected amount, by inserting said control material into said analyzer, and analyzing said control material therein;
• (i) determining, from the analysis of said control material, whether said selected characteristic of said control material deviates from said expected control values by more than said predetermined amount;
• and
• (j) determining, when said control material is analyzed on said analyzer and when such analysis indicates that the selected characteristic of said control material deviates from said expected control values by more than a predetermined amount, that said analyzer is incapable of detecting said target value.