Covid-19 EQA | UK NEQAS International Quality Expertise
As we all know, 2020 saw the development of the Covid-19 global pandemic. Covid-19 is a respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, a coronavirus. In order to accurately map the progression of this disease, diagnose patients and facilitate ‘track and trace’, diagnostic services had to be rapidly established to assay samples for this new contagion.
Given that this is a new test, often performed in newly established laboratories and with tremendous clinical importance, provision of high-quality external quality assessment (EQA)/proficiency testing (PT) services to support Covid-19 testing frameworks is essential.
In response to this UK NEQAS developed a range of innovative EQA/PT services for SARS CoV-2 testing. This is in addition to the continued provision of established EQA/PT for the tests clinically recommended for monitoring patients with Covid-19.
The Covid-19 EQA/PT services offered by the UK NEQAS consortium cover the entire range of Covid-19 clinical laboratory requirements, from diagnostic testing, to therapeutic monitoring programmes to educational modules.
These EQA/PT programmes are all provided from centres of excellence, working to the highest standards, with staff that are dedicated, driven and possessing a high level of scientific expertise.
Please see below for details of these programmes and information on how to enrol:
Covid-19 EQA Services - Diagnostic Programmes
Molecular Detection of Respiratory Viruses
Provided by: UK NEQAS Microbiology
Molecular Detection of SARS-CoV-2
Provided by: UK NEQAS Microbiology
SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Detection
Provided by: UK NEQAS Immunology, Immunochemistry & Allergy (IIA)
SARS-CoV-2 Antigen (Pilot) – further information coming soon
Provided by: UK NEQAS Microbiology
To register your interest in any or all of these UK NEQAS Covid-19 EQA programmes, please email us. Alternatively, speak to a member of the UK NEQAS team on +44 (0) 114 2611689.
Covid-19 EQA Services - Treatment & Monitoring Programmes
Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT)
Provided by: UK NEQAS Blood Coagulation
B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP)
Provided by: UK NEQAS Cardiac Markers
C-Reactive Protein
Provided by: UK NEQAS Immunology, Immunochemistry & Allergy (IIA)
C-Reactive Protein (Pilot) | Point of Care Test
Provided by: UK NEQAS IIA
D-Dimer Assay
Incorporated in the Screening Tests (Level 1) EQA Programme
Provided by: UK NEQAS Blood Coagulation
Ferritin
Incorporated in the Haematinics EQA Programme
Provided by: UK NEQAS Clinical Chemistry (Birmingham Quality)
Fibrinogen (Clauss Method)
Incorporated in the Screening Tests (Level 1) EQA Programme
Provided by: UK NEQAS Blood Coagulation
Full Blood Count (FBC)
Provided by: UK NEQAS Haematology
Heparin Induced Thrombophilia (HIT) Screening
Provided by: UK NEQAS Blood Coagulation
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) (Pilot)
Provided by: UK NEQAS IIA
Monitoring Anticoagulation with Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) and Unfractionated Heparin (UFH)
Incorporated in the Screening Tests (Level 1) EQA Programme
Provided by: UK NEQAS Blood Coagulation
NT-pro BNP
Provided by: UK NEQAS Cardiac Markers
Plasma Viscosity
Provided by: UK NEQAS Haematology
Procalcitonin
Provided by: UK NEQAS IIA
Prothrombin Time for Diagnosis
Incorporated in the Screening Tests (Level 1) EQA Programme
Provided by: UK NEQAS Blood Coagulation
Routine Biochemistry
Provided by: UK NEQAS Clinical Chemistry (Birmingham Quality)
Troponin I & T
Provided by: UK NEQAS Cardiac Markers
To register your interest in any or all of these UK NEQAS Covid-19 EQA programmes, please email us. Alternatively, speak to a member of the UK NEQAS team on +44 (0) 114 2611689.
Covid-19 EQA Services - Educational Modules
Provided by Genomic Quality Assessment (GenQA), these educational modules are free of charge and are suitable for all staff obtaining swabs from patients or working in laboratories receiving and processing SARS-CoV-2 samples. Select a module to immediately register individual members of staff:
Individual Competency Assessment for: