CSF Oligoclonal Bands EQA
| Accreditation Status: | UKAS Schedule of Accreditation | ||||||||
| Date Scheme started: | 1996 | ||||||||
| Clinical Applicability: | Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis | ||||||||
| Analytes: | CSF IgG Oligoclonal Bands (SER/015) | ||||||||
| Units for Reporting: | Presence or absence of IgG oligoclonal banding in the CSF sample and the pattern type. | ||||||||
| Samples Distributed: |
Liquid format. Normal and pathological human cerebrospinal fluid, with a paired serum sample. The concentration of IgG in the CSF and serum sample will be predetermined, and this information will be included with the distribution to allow the appropriate dilution of the samples. |
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| Number of Distributions per year: | 6 | ||||||||
| Number of Samples per Distribution: | 2 (1 x CSF and 1 x serum pair) | ||||||||
| 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: |
Qualitative responses and pattern type are assessed by MI scoring in relation to the designated response. |
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| Performance Scoring: | MI scoring | ||||||||
| Criteria of Performance: |
Laboratory performance is assessed over a running analytical window of 6 Distributions (12 months) The categories of performance are:
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| Persistent Poor Performance: |
Defined as being in the Poor Performance category for two or more successive Distributions |