ACCREDITATION STATUS:

UKAS accredited proficiency testing provider No. 7795

CLINICAL APPLICATION:

Diagnosis of autoimmune disease

PURPOSE OF PROGRAMME:

Autoimmunity 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:

Qualitative responses are assessed in terms of MI scoring for each antibody specificity in relation to the Designated Response. Laboratories also submit the immunofluorescent staining pattern of antinuclear antibody. Reports show method or kit related statistics in terms of Method Laboratory Trimmed Mean (MLTM) and range of results reported

PERFORMANCE SCORING:

MI scoring

PERFORMANCE MONITORING:

Laboratory performance for each antibody specificity is classified in terms of MI scoring 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