ACCREDITATION STATUS:

Application to extension to scope in progress

CLINICAL APPLICATION:

HLA typing

PURPOSE OF PROGRAMME:

To assess participants' ability to correctly interpret their Scheme 4A1 DNA based typing results to the 'split' HLA specificity level. Note that Scheme 4A1i is only available to participants registered for Scheme 4A1.

ANALYTES:

PROGRAMME OF ANALYSIS:

Results should be submitted via online data entry or on the official UK NEQAS for H&I result forms, available from the UK NEQAS for H&I website. Results are expected to be returned within the specified reporting period (please refer to results deadline for each distribution on the UK NEQAS for H&I website or Participants Manual). The majority of UK NEQAS for H&I schemes are assessed on a consensus basis, therefore samples are distributed with the assigned value not being determined. Where a reference result is used, this testing is performed alongside or after the close of the EQA scheme. For these reasons UK NEQAS for H&I is unable to disclose results early.

DATA ANALYSIS:

Qualitative analysis.

PERFORMANCE SCORING:

Participating laboratories will be assessed on the loci they designate at registration. The consensus full HLA type is determined by at least 75% of laboratories agreeing each specificity. Specificities failing to reach the 75% consensus level will not be assessed. A blank forms part of the assessment if at least 75% of laboratories report a single specificity at a locus.

PERFORMANCE MONITORING:

Satisfactory performance is obtaining nine or more full HLA types in agreement with the consensus HLA types in a calendar year.

PERSISTENT POOR PERFORMANCE:

Laboratories not meeting the Satisfactory Performance criteria are deemed to have Unsatisfactory Performance and must complete a root cause, corrective and preventative action form.