ACCREDITATION STATUS:

Pilot programme - Not accredited

CLINICAL APPLICATION:

Lymphocyte subset enumeration

PURPOSE OF PROGRAMME:

To assess a laboratory's ability to calculate the absolute count (cells/µL) and percentage of lymphocyte subsets using alternative technologies to traditional flow cytometers.

ANALYTES:

PROGRAMME OF ANALYSIS:

Results are entered online via the UK NEQAS LI website. Trials are live for 3 weeks. Results can be entered at any time during this period. Under exceptional circumstances late results are accepted at our discretion via email/fax.

DATA ANALYSIS:

Quantitative analysis. Results are scores against the consensus (defined as the robust mean) absolute counts and percentages from results submitted by participants using a single platform approach

PERFORMANCE SCORING:

z scores using robust means and robust SDs with standard limits of +2 and +3 and -2 and -3 as per ISO 13528 A result between 2.0 and -2.0 would be classed as satisfactory. A result between >2.0 and 3.0 or <-2.0 and -3.0 is seen as an 'Action' result, which highlights a potential issue to the laboratory. Two 'Action' results in a period of 3 samples would result in classification as a 'Critical'. A result above 3.0 or below -3.0 is considered to be a 'Critical' result requiring immediate inves

PERFORMANCE MONITORING:

Participant performance is not monitored at this time

PERSISTENT POOR PERFORMANCE:

Participant performance is not monitored at this time