EQAS Program User Guide - QCNet

Chapter 1: Introduction and OverviewEQAS Performance CriteriaIndividual laboratory performance is displayed in each laboratory specific Sample Report. Acceptableperformance in this global program is identified as falling within 2 Z-score from your comparator mean. Resultsoutside ± 2 Z-score are highlighted in the “Exceptions” section of the Sample Report. Care should be takenwhen evaluating your comparison at the Method or Mode/All Results comparator, as your instrument/reagentcan have a bias from others included in a “grouped” comparator. Ensure that results highlighted as exceptionsare investigated and the reason for each deviation determined. Results outside ± 3.0 Z-score are also noted inthe “Exceptions” section of the Sample Report. These results require your immediate attention fordetermination of root cause with corrective measures implemented where appropriate.Your laboratory may follow local or national guidance with respect to acceptable performance in an EQAprogram. Examine your reports carefully in cases where local guidance differs from that stated above, asadditional follow up action may be necessary.Responsibilities of EQAS Participants• Allow sufficient time for delivery of the specimen package by placing your order approximately ten weeksprior to the start of a cycle.• Inspect the specimen package on receipt and store it according to instructions in the package insert.Contact Bio-Rad immediately if there is a deficiency identified in the specimen package or with individualsamples.• Review the content of your Document Pack on receipt (provided to labs submitting results on paper) andcontact Bio-Rad if a deficiency is identified.• Ensure that all configuration codes (analyte, method, instrument/kit, reagent, and unit) are on file withBio-Rad EQAS and are associated with each reported test. Your results cannot be processed until acomplete set of codes are on file or submitted with each test result. You are encouraged to use EQASeForms 2, EQAS Online, or EQAS Mobile for result submission, as method codes are automaticallytransmitted with each submission. If your registrations are wrong, your data will be placed in the wrongpeer groups, providing your laboratory with an incorrect comparison of your results.• Submit changes to your method registrations in sufficient time for them to be processed, using the ChangeNotification Form (if submitting by paper).• Handle and test the EQAS specimen as you would a routine patient sample following the normalprocedures used in your laboratory. This is the only way an objective comparison of your result can bemade.EQAS Program User Guide 9