ACCREDITATION STATUS:

UKAS accredited proficiency testing provider No. 7795

CLINICAL APPLICATION:

Diagnosis and management of malignant disease

PURPOSE OF PROGRAMME:

Oncology EQA scheme

ANALYTES:

PROGRAMME OF ANALYSIS:

Data entry is via the web for the submission of results. Data analysis is commenced 21 days after sample dispatch. Late returns are accepted and will contribute to the laboratory's cumulative performance statistics.

DATA ANALYSIS:

All Laboratory Trimmed Mean (ALTM) with truncation at 2SD, SD, and CV%. Reports also show method and manufacturer specific statistics. Individual laboratory performance is expressed in terms of MRBIS, SDBIS, and MRVIS. Because of marked differences in antigenic potency of some commercial kits, the Designated Value (DV) for calculation of VI is the Method Laboratory Trimmed Mean (MLTM). A minimum of four participants is required for the full analysis of the data set for any particular marker. Chosen Coefficient of Variation: CA125 and Ovarian markers 10% CA15-3 and Breast markers 12.5% CA19-9 and GI markers 12.5% NSE and Lung markers 12.5% Chromogranin A 12.5%

PERFORMANCE SCORING:

MRVIS

PERFORMANCE MONITORING:

Laboratory performance is classified in terms of the MRVIS over a running analytical window of 6 Distributions (12 months).

PERSISTENT POOR PERFORMANCE:

Defined as being in the Poor Performance category for two or more successive Distributions.