Behind the scenes of EQA-characteristics, capabilities, benefits and assets of external quality assessment (EQA): Part III-EQA samples

Christoph Buchta, Rachel Marrington, Barbara De La Salle, Stéphanie Albarède, Xavier Albe, Tony Badrick, Heidi Berghäll, David Bullock, Christa M. Cobbaert, Wim Coucke, Vincent Delatour, Wolf Jochen Geilenkeuser, Andrea Griesmacher, Gitte M. Henriksen, Jim F. Huggett, István Juhos, Martin Kammel, Peter B. Luppa, Piet Meijer, Jonna PelantiPaola Pezzati, Sverre Sandberg, Michael Spannagl, Marc Thelen, Annette Thomas, Heinz Zeichhardt, Veronica Restelli, Lucy A. Perrone

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Providers of external quality assessment (EQA) programs evaluate data or information obtained and reported by participant laboratories using their routine procedures to examine properties or measurands in samples provided for this purpose. EQA samples must offer participants an equal chance to obtain accurate results, while being designed to provide results in clinically relevant ranges. It is the responsibility of the EQA provider to meet the necessary requirements for homogeneity, stability and some other properties of the EQA items in order to offer participants a fair, reliable and technically interesting EQA experience. Thus, the samples are at the heart and in the centre of EQA and its success depends on their quality. This manuscript describes the requirements for EQA samples and the activities of EQA providers to achieve them.

Original languageEnglish
JournalClinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2025

Keywords

  • EQA
  • external quality assessment
  • interlaboratory comparison
  • proficiency testing (PT)

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