If yes, we would like to recommend you considering EQA service from UK NEQAS !
About UK NEQAS and EQA service
The United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service (UK NEQAS) is an internationally recognized organization that provides External Quality Assessment (EQA) and proficiency testing for laboratories and healthcare facilities.
UK NEQAS’s primary goal is to help laboratories achieve and maintain high-quality and reliable results. They do this by providing regular quality assessment programs that test the accuracy and precision of laboratory analyses. By participating in UK NEQAS programs, laboratories can benchmark their performance against other laboratories worldwide, identify potential areas of improvement, and ensure that they meet both national and international standards for quality.
The service is vital for laboratories to maintain compliance with regulatory standards, such as those required by ISO and the International Organization for Standardization for medical laboratories. UK NEQAS collaborates with the National Health Service (NHS) and other healthcare providers in the UK and abroad, offering both standard and specialized EQA schemes tailored to different fields and testing requirements.
Benefits of obtaining EQA service
- Enhanced Quality and Accuracy: Regular participation in UK NEQAS EQA programs allows laboratories to benchmark their testing accuracy and precision against other labs globally. This helps in identifying potential errors or inconsistencies, allowing for quality improvements.
- Regulatory Compliance: UK NEQAS EQA programs help laboratories meet standards set by ISO 15189, which is essential for accreditation. Many healthcare and regulatory authorities require accredited labs to participate in EQA programs as proof of consistent, high-quality performance.
- Continuous Improvement: By identifying areas of improvement, UK NEQAS EQA participation supports a continuous quality improvement cycle. Reports provided after each assessment help labs refine their processes and procedures.
- Enhanced Credibility and Reputation: Participation in a globally recognized EQA program like UK NEQAS can boost a lab's credibility with clients, patients, and healthcare providers, establishing it as a reliable source of accurate diagnostic results.
- Staff Development and Training: EQA programs highlight areas where further staff training may be beneficial, fostering professional growth and knowledge improvement.
- Reduced Risk of Diagnostic Errors: High-quality laboratory practices lead to more accurate test results, reducing the likelihood of diagnostic errors, which can directly impact patient care and safety.
- Support for New Tests and Technologies: UK NEQAS frequently updates its assessment offerings to reflect advancements in laboratory medicine, helping labs adapt to and validate new tests, methodologies, and technologies.
- Performance Benchmarking: Regular assessment allows labs to gauge their performance not only against internal standards but also against national and international peers, facilitating a clear understanding of where they stand in the industry.
Modules of EQA service
There are more than 20 immunocytochemistry modules and 3 ISH modules:
- Module 1: General Pathology
- Module 2A: Breast Pathology (Hormonal Receptors - ER only)
- Module 2B: Breast Pathology (Hormonal Receptors - ER and PR)
- Module 3: Breast Pathology HER2 IHC
- Module 4: Lymphoid Pathology
- Module 5: Neuropathology
- Module 6: Cytopathology (Cell Blocks and Cytospins preparations)
- Module 7: Alimentary Tract Pathology – GIST
- Module 8: Gastric HER2 IHC
- Module 9: Breast HER2 ISH (Interpretive & Technical)
- Module 10: NSCLC ALK IHC
- Module 11: NSCLC PD-L1 IHC (Pilot)
- Module 12: NSCLC ALK/ROS1 FISH (Pilot)
- Module 13: Mismatch Repair (MMR) Proteins
- Module 14: NSCLC ROS1 IHC (Pilot)
As the only designated representative of
provides EQA service to clinical laboratories around Asia.
