ACCREDITATION STATUS:

UKAS accredited proficiency testing provider No. 7795

CLINICAL APPLICATION:

Diagnosis of monoclonal gammopathy in serum and urine

PURPOSE OF PROGRAMME:

Oncology 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:

Whilst the programme will analyse participant's isotype identification and monoclone quantitation, the returns will require data on total serum protein, albumin, IgG, IgA, IgM (and urine total protein). This latter information will not be formally analysed as it is covered in other EQA programmes but will be of value in the recognition of analytical or isotype identification problems Chosen Coefficient of Variation: 30% for FLC Chosen Coefficient of Variation: 15% for Monoclonal Component Quanti

PERFORMANCE SCORING:

MI Scoring - The qualitative elements of electrophoresis and isotype identification MRVIS - Assessment of the monoclone quantitation and free light chains

PERFORMANCE MONITORING:

The qualitative elements of electrophoresis and isotype identification are assessed by MI scoring over a running analytical window of 6 Distributions (12 months) An MIS for any one interpretative component of 2 or more is classified as

PERSISTENT POOR PERFORMANCE:

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