IJCA Vol 5 Issue 1 - Flipbook - Page 49
2026 | Volume 5, Issue 1
The International Journal of Conformity Assessment
Table 1: External Quality Assessment (EQA), Workflow and Key Features
Step
Description
Parameters Assessed
Bene昀椀ts
Sample Distribution
Participating Laboratories receive unknown
samples from the EQA or PT provider.
–
Standardized starting
point for testing.
Laboratory Testing
Participating laboratories analyze samples under
routine conditions.
Accuracy, Precision.
Ensures consistent
methodology.
Result Submission
Participating laboratories report results to the
EQA or PT provider.
–
Centralized data
collection.
Performance
Evaluation
Comparison with wider peer laboratories;
statistical analysis.
Accuracy, Precision,
Peer consistency.
Detects deviations
and errors.
Feedback and
Recommendations
Participating laboratories receive a performance
report highlighting trends and areas for
improvement.
–
Enables corrective
measures and staff
training if required.
Table 2: Major EQA and PT Programs Worldwide
Program
Region/Scope
Key Features
College of American
Pathologists (CAP)
USA and international
participants.
Offers EQA programs in clinical chemistry, hematology, microbiology,
immunology, molecular diagnostics, and more. CAP programs are
widely recognized for accreditation purposes.
UK National External
Quality Assessment
Service (UK NEQAS)
United Kingdom
and international
participants
Covers clinical pathology, transfusion medicine, virology,
microbiology, and specialized fields. Provides detailed performance
reports and corrective guidance.
World Health Organization Global, with focus
(WHO) EQA Programs
on low- and middleincome countries
Supports laboratories in infectious diseases, immunology, and
molecular diagnostics. Focuses on strengthening public health
laboratory capacity.
Royal College of
Australia & AsiaPathologists of Australasia Pacific
Quality Assurance
Programs (RCPAQAP)
Provides EQA schemes in pathology disciplines, including clinical
chemistry, microbiology, molecular testing, and POCT.
European Union
Reference Laboratories
(EURLs)
Europe
Focuses on food safety, microbiology, and public health. Offers
standardized EQA programs to promote consistency across EU
laboratories.
National EQA Programs
Various countries
(India, South Africa,
Brazil, etc.)
Tailored to national public health priorities and local laboratory
capacities. Often coordinated by government health authorities or
national professional bodies.
peer results, which re昀氀ects overall reliability. By
providing actionable feedback, EQA participation
helps laboratories identify both random and
systematic errors and implement corrective
measures to improve testing quality.
As summarized in Table 1, the EQA work昀氀ow
comprises a sequence of 昀椀ve steps that
collectively support the accuracy and reliability of
laboratory testing.
Major EQA Programs Worldwide
Several international, regional, and national
organizations offer structured EQA or pro昀椀ciency
testing (PT) programs to support laboratories in
maintaining high-quality testing standards. These
programs enable laboratories to compare their
performance with peer institutions, identify errors,
and implement corrective actions. Some major
EQA and PT programs are summarized in Table 2.
Participation in these EQA or PT programs not only
allows testing laboratories to benchmark results at
regional and international levels but also supports
compliance with accreditation requirements, such
as ISO 15189. In addition, participation promotes
professional development, strengthens con昀椀dence
in clinical decision-making, and contributes to
improved patient safety. Building on this global
framework, India has developed its own network
of accredited EQA or PT providers to ensure
laboratory quality at the national level.
EQA and PT Programs in India
In India, the accreditation and provision of EQA
and PT schemes are overseen by the National
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