ACCREDITATION STATUS:

UKAS accredited proficiency testing provider No. 7795

CLINICAL APPLICATION:

The diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea or otorrhea (leakage of CSF into the nose or ear canal, usually as a result of head trauma, tumor, congenital malformation, or surgery) is often difficult to confirm. CSF B2 Transferrin testing is used to determine the presence or absence of CSF (in serum) in such cases. Beta 2 Transferrin is only found in CSF, ocular fluids and perilymph, therefore it can be used as a marker to determine the presence of CSF in various secretions (typically from the nose and ear)

PURPOSE OF PROGRAMME:

Immunochemistry 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 by MI scoring in relation to the designated response

PERFORMANCE SCORING:

MI scoring

PERFORMANCE MONITORING:

Laboratory performance is assessed over a running analytical window of 6 Distributions (12 months). Pilot scoring has been introduced:

PERSISTENT POOR PERFORMANCE:

Defined as being in the Poor Performance category for two or more successive Distributions