Specific Microbial Antibodies EQA

Accreditation Status:

UKAS Schedule of Accreditation

Date Scheme started:

1998

Clinical Applicability:

Diagnosis and management of antibody deficiency syndromes

Analytes:

Tetanus Antibodies (SER/043)
H. influenzae Antibodies (SER/044)
Pneumococcal Antibodies (SER/045)

Each analyte is available separately

Units for Reporting:

Tetanus IU/mL
HiB mg/L
Pneumococcal (PCP) mg/L
PCP Serotypes µg/mL

Samples Distributed:

Liquid format. Normal and pathological human serum

Number of Distributions per year:

Number of Samples per Distribution:

6 (2 x Tetanus, 2 x HiB, 2 x Pneumococcal)

Frequency of Distributions:

Every two months as outlined in the Distribution Schedule

Schedule of Analysis:

Data entry is via the web for the submission of results. Data analysis commences 21 days after sample dispatch. Late returns are accepted and will contribute to the laboratory's cumulative performance statistics.

Data Analysis:

All Laboratory Trimmed Mean (ALTM) for Tetanus, Pneumococcal and H. influenza antibodies with truncation at 2SD, SD and CV%. Reports show

method specific statistics. Individual laboratory performance is expressed in terms of MRBIS, SDBIS and MRVIS

Chosen Coefficient of Variation is specific for each analyte:

Tetanus antibody (20%)
H. influenzae type B antibody (20%)
Pneumococcal antibody (20%)

Performance Scoring:

MRVIS

Criteria of Performance:

Laboratory performance is assessed in relation to each antibody over a running analytical window of 6 Distributions (12 months)

The categories of performance are:

	MRVIS
Ideal	< 50
Good	50 - 100
Adequate	101 - 200
Poor	>200 or SDIS > 200

Persistent Poor Performance:

Defined as being in the Poor Performance category for two or more successive Distributions