External quality assessment schemes for immunoassays

Abstract

External quality assessment schemes (EQAS) provide an important means of monitoring the quality of the performance of immunoassays in the field. Set up by external bodies and complementing internal quality control procedures, they enable ongoing comparison of individual laboratory results, both with independently established target values and with results of other participating laboratories. Well-designed EQAS assess analytical performance particularly with respect to bias and precision, but also give some indication of the type of errors that most frequently occur in routine practice. EQAS must themselves meet nationally and/or internationally agreed standards so that participants can have confidence in the data generated. Some of the standards currently applied in the UK are described in this chapter, with examples of how these standards can be met also provided. © 2013 Springer New York.