Behind the scenes of EQA - characteristics, capabilities, benefits and assets of external quality assessment (EQA)
Buchta, Christoph Marrington, Rachel De la Salle, Barbara Albarède, Stéphanie Badrick, Tony Berghäll, Heidi Bullock, David Coucke, Wim Delatour, Vincent Geilenkeuser, Wolf-Jochen
Buchta, Christoph
Marrington, Rachel
De la Salle, Barbara
Albarède, Stéphanie
Badrick, Tony
Berghäll, Heidi
Bullock, David
Coucke, Wim
Delatour, Vincent
Geilenkeuser, Wolf-Jochen
Affiliation
Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests; University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust; UK National External Quality Assessment Scheme for Haematology; Centre Toulousain pour le Contrôle de Qualité en Biologie Clinique; Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Program; MVZ Ärztliche Laboratorien München-Land GmbH; Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg; Laboratoire National de Métrologie et d'Essais; University Hospital Vienna; Reference Institute for Bioanalytics; The Norwegian Organization for Quality Improvement of Laboratory Examinations; Innsbruck University Hospital; ESEAP - Proficiency Testing Scheme for Clinical Laboratorie; National Measurement Laboratory; University of Surrey; SOD Sicurezza e Qualità AOU Careggi; NYP Columbia University; INSTAND e.V. Society for Promoting Quality Assurance in Medical Laboratories; Foundation for Quality Assessment in Laboratory Medicine; Radboud Medical Center; University of British Columbia
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Publication date
2025-01-06
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Abstract
External quality assessment (EQA) cycles are the smallest complete units within EQA programs that laboratories can use to obtain external assessments of their performance. In each cycle, several samples are distributed to the laboratories registered for participation, and ideally, EQA programs not only cover the examination procedures but also the pre- and post-examination procedures. The properties and concentration range of measurands in individual samples are selected with regard to the intended challenge for the participants so that each sample fulfils its purpose. This aims to ensure the most significant possible information gain in every cycle using the lowest possible number of EQA samples and thus, under economically optimal conditions. Participants examine samples and the results are reported to the EQA provider, who compares them with the target values for individual measurands in every sample. The EQA provider assesses the laboratory performance, and finally communicates the assessment results to the participant. The participants evaluate the outcomes of the assessment of their examination results and can draw conclusions in the case of both failing and passing and, if necessary, define improvement measures. After completion, each cycle is evaluated by the provider so that limitations and weaknesses of the EQA program can be identified and appropriate measures taken, or to confirm its continued suitability and appropriateness.
Citation
Buchta C, Marrington R, De la Salle B, Albarède S, Badrick T, Berghäll H, Bullock D, Coucke W, Delatour V, Geilenkeuser WJ, Griesmacher A, Henriksen GM, Huggett JF, Luppa PB, Pelanti J, Pezzati P, Sandberg S, Spannagl M, Thelen M, Restelli V, Perrone LA. Behind the scenes of EQA - characteristics, capabilities, benefits and assets of external quality assessment (EQA). Clin Chem Lab Med. 2025 Jan 6;63(5):859-867. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2024-1290.
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Article