ACCREDITATION STATUS:

UKAS Schedule of Accreditation, Accredited to ISO/IEC 17043:2010, Provider 7805

CLINICAL APPLICATION:

Pre-transfusion testing.

PURPOSE OF PROGRAMME:

To assess performance in undertaking standard patient pretransfusion serological testing, and decision making with respect to selection of red cells for crossmatch or issue. Other pretransfusion testing procedures are sometimes assessed on an educational basis.

ANALYTES:

PROGRAMME OF ANALYSIS:

Results are entered online via the UK NEQAS Haematology and Transfusion website. 'E' coded exercises are live for 10 days and 'R' coded exercises for 2 weeks. Late results are only accepted if testing has been undertaken by the closing date and can be submitted on a form (which can be downloaded from the web result page) and emailed or faxed to the scheme.

DATA ANALYSIS:

Data is categorical and the target value is the 'true' value as determined by the Supplier (NHSBT Reagents Unit) and the UK NEQAS laboratory.

PERFORMANCE SCORING:

Each test is assessed and scored separately, with penalty scores weighted for potential clinical significance. A score below 80 is considered as satisfactory, 80 is borderline and 100 is unsatisfactory. A non or late return attracts 50 points.

PERFORMANCE MONITORING:

Participant performance is monitored separately for each test over a 3 exercise rolling window.

PERSISTENT POOR PERFORMANCE:

This is defined as more than one episode of unsatisfactory performance within a 12 month period, for any combination of tests, including non or late return.