Quality in diagnostic testing represents a key target of laboratory medicine. Laboratories attempt to
assure the quality of their testing by various processes, but key to assurance is the successful performance of internal quality control (IQC) and external quality assessment (EQA). IQC, in general, provides information on the precision of the assay, whereas EQA in general provides information on
the accuracy. Together with colleagues from different EQA organisations ECAT was involved in an opinion paper to identify some of the strengths and weaknesses of EQA, and targets attempts towards harmonization of EQA practice, in order to achieve the best outcome for participant laboratories and, thus, for patients and their clinical care providers.
Abstract
Quality in diagnostic testing represents a key target of laboratory medicine, for which an assurance around the quality of testing is expected from all involved in the process. Laboratories attempt to assure the quality of their testing by various processes, but especially by performance of internal quality control and external quality assessment (EQA). This is especially true for tests of hemostasis and coagulation. EQA in general provides information on test accuracy and on evaluation of long-term laboratory performance. EQA providers support laboratory performance by various means, including distribution of material for testing of analytes (“proficiency testing”), educational support
through expert advice, distribution of publications or case series. Participation in EQA is often a laboratory accreditation requirement. This review aims to identify some of the strengths and weaknesses of EQA, and targets attempts towards harmonization of EQA practice, in order to achieve
the best outcome for participant laboratories and, thus, for patients and their clinical care providers.
Clin Chem Lab Med 2019; 57(1): 115–126
This is publication can be approached via the following link: https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/cclm-2018-0077/html