Proficiency test programs

Where are their track records in the proficiency testing program ... 

Participation in interlaboratory comparison or proficiency testing programs... 

There are proficiency testing programs that are geared toward clinical sensitivity or specificity by seeking to determine whether a disease can be detected versus other types of controls that are use to test sensitivity, selectivity, and most importantly, reproducibility and precision. With mass spectrometry, the controls are and should be no different than those used for other assays, with one interesting exception. Quality assurance materials prepared for MS/MS may not be useful in other assays that are less selective. The example is newborn screening where quality assurance/control QA/QC materials have a mixture of compounds present in the blood specimens. However, in less selective immunoassays, the mixture creates interferences. In addition, material is used to spike a blood sample is key and one should ensure there is no enzyme activity. We have encountered such a problem with a d/1 mixture of metabolites where one form was degraded in the prepared blood. 

CMS (Center for Medicare Sc Medicaid Services). 2005. CLIA Approved Proficiency Testing Programs 2005 [online]. Available http //63.241.27.79/clia/ptlist.pdf. [accessed April 14,2006]. 

Participation in interlaboratory comparisons and proficiency-testing programs provides additional information especially pertinent to controlling interlaboratory variation. Aliquots of homogeneous samples containing the analytes of interest are drawn and distributed to each participating laboratory. The participants results are used to calculate overall and method-specific statistics, such as means, medians, and standard devia-... 

The ISO/IEC GUIDE 25 [1] stresses, in paragraphs 5.6 and 9.3, the importance of participation in proficiency testing programs or other interlaboratory comparisons, as appropriate and when suitable programs are available. This would imply that such activities are an important part of a laboratory s quality control procedures. 

The focus of this paper will be on the phrase an unbroken chain of comparisons . According to the way proficiency tests are normally carried out it is quite possible that this chain might be broken in different ways during the preparation and execution of a proficiency testing program. 

There will often be a problem with the similarity/suitability of a proficiency test program in relation to the level at which work is usually carried out in a laboratory. If the difference is too great, traceability can no longer be claimed. It may either be the matrix that is not quite agreeable or the concentration of the analyte is at the wrong level. 

The purpose of this project is to conduct a nationwide criminalistics laboratory proficiency testing program. The objectives of the project are ... 

The OPCW Laboratory conducts a Proficiency Testing program (as described in Chapter 6) for the purpose of selecting and maintaining designated laboratories. The OCAD has been used extensively by all laboratories participating in the tests and will undoubtedly be an important reference in any event of off-site analysis. 

E466 Nealon, D.A. (1988). The New York State proficiency testing program a-amy-lase methodology and proficiency. Clin. Chem. 34,1246-1247, Abstr. 459. 

E626 Hill, S. A., Heathcote, J.C. and McQueen, M.J. (1990). The significance of matrix effects on the measurement of lactate dehydrogenase activity using Kodak dry slide technology in the Ontario Laboratory Proficiency Testing Program. Clin. Biochem. 23, 179-181. 

E646 Lanphear, B., Laessig, R., Ehrmeyer, S. and Hassemer, D. (1990). The application of proposed CDC/HCFA criteria to assess intralaboratory performance through proficiency testing programs. Clin. Chem. 36, 1005, Abstr. 250. 

EN50 Lasky, F.D., Powers, D.M., Hassemer, D.J. and Wiebe, D.A. (1991). Target value assignment in proficiency testing programs Is using reference methods a valid approach Clin. Chem. 37, 957, Abstr. 225. 

Ms. Meronek was an active participant in the USEPA and NVLAP privatization of the proficiency testing program and in the early development of the NELAC standards. She is a founding and active member of the Chemical Reference Material Manufacturing Association (CRMMA) and is currently its president. 

SD limits are based on peer group data from the Proficiency Testing program used. 

EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT AND PROFICIENCY TESTING PROGRAMS... 

Initial method evaluation studies are essential to ensure that systematic errors are not present before the baseline period and the determination of the mean and the control limits. The accuracy of the method should be initially established by comparison with other analytical methods (and recovery and interference studies) and should continue to be monitored by comparison with other analytical methods. Ongoing comparison-of-methods studies are desirable to ensure that systematic errors do not slowly increase and go undetected by internal QC procedures. These ongoing comparison studies are provided by the external QA programs, which in turn form the basis for proficiency testing programs. 

An important part of a quality assurance plan includes the external validation of sweat analysis accuracy through participation in proficiency testing. The CAP offers a proficiency testing program consisting of six specimens per year. Participants receive feedback concerning their performance on these specimens relative to others in their peer group. 

Trace Elements Proficiency Testing Program New York State Department of Health Wadsworth Centre, PO Box 509 Albany, NY 12201-0509 USA... 

Assay methods used for TDM should be accurate and reproducible. All clinical laboratories with a TDM service should be actively involved in an internal quality control and external proficiency testing program. In addition, sample volume and assay turnaround time should be considered in selecting the most appropriate analytical method,... 

Proficiency testing for molecular diagnostics laboratories remains a challenge because adequate proficiency testing programs are unavailable to cover the wide variety of molecular assays offered by a number of laboratories. The CAP offers the only proficiency program accredited for molecu-... 

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