Sample Donation
Support accurate laboratory testing and patient care through sample donation to UK NEQAS IIA.
We use donated patient samples to help assess the quality, accuracy, and reliability of laboratory tests used in the diagnosis, monitoring, and management of disease. These donations play an important role in external quality assessment (EQA), helping laboratories benchmark performance and maintain a high standard of clinical testing.
This page explains how sample donation works, why it matters, and how participating laboratories or patients can help.
Why Patient Sample Donation is Important
For EQA samples to reflect real clinical testing conditions, participating laboratories should process them in the same way as routine patient samples.
To achieve this, many of the materials used within our EQA programmes are serum, urine, or other clinically relevant samples sourced from voluntary donations. Real patient material helps create meaningful quality assessments that better reflect day-to-day laboratory practice.
Without donated samples, it becomes more difficult for EQA providers to monitor testing accuracy and support improvements in patient diagnostics.
How Donated Samples Are Used
Donated samples may be used to create external quality assessment materials distributed to participating laboratories. These materials allow laboratories to:
- Benchmark results against peer laboratories
- Identify analytical variation
- Monitor consistency over time
- Support accreditation requirements
- Improve confidence in diagnostic testing
All donated materials are used strictly for quality assurance purposes and help improve healthcare systems nationally and internationally.
Who Can Donate Samples?
Sample donation may involve patients with relevant medical conditions whose blood, urine, or surplus clinical material could support specific testing programmes.
In some cases, participating laboratories may also have surplus materials that could be suitable for donation.
It is also ethically acceptable to utilise surplus patient material for EQA purposes and in accordance with UK legislation and guidance from our team.
How you can help UK NEQAS
Sample acquisition is an increasing challenge for EQA providers, and donations make a valuable difference. If any participating laboratories have any surplus materials, they can contact us to arrange collection. We will provide full guidance and a patient information pack, including a patient consent form.
Consent, Privacy, and Safety
All donations are voluntary, with donors receiving a patient information pack and consent form before taking part. Consent can also be withdrawn within the initial holding period before anonymisation takes place.
All samples are anonymised after donation and cannot be traced back to an individual once processed. Materials are also tested for safety before distribution, in line with relevant legislation and procedures.
Choosing not to donate will never affect a patient’s current or future medical care.
Contact Us About Patient Sample Donation
If you would like more information about sample donation for EQA purposes, please don’t hesitate to contact UK NEQAS IIA today.