External Quality Assessment (EQA) for Laboratories

Writer and Editor : Eka Damayanti

Depok, 11/20/2024 - EQA is one component of quality assurance (QA), which ensures that tests are performed accurately, results are comparable and reproducible, and errors are detected and corrected to avoid adverse outcomes or wrong diagnoses. It also evaluates participant performance against pre-established criteria through interlaboratory comparisons, known as proficiency testing (PT). EQA must not be seen as an alternative or a competitor to Internal Quality Control/IQC, both are essential tools for a clinical laboratory. IQC is used in the decision to accept or reject results on patients’ samples and enables the laboratory to describe and monitor the quality of its work.

EQA is here defined as a system for objectively checking the laboratory’s performance using an external agency or facility. EQA permits a comparison of quality between laboratories and thus describes the “state of the art” for that area of laboratory work encompassed by the EQA program.
Rightly used and understood EQA programs will stimulate the development of quality assurance including IQC within participating laboratories. Participation in proficiency testing will provide the laboratory with valuable data and information. It will allow the laboratory to compare performance and test results in different sites and/or performance at the international or regional level, providing the laboratory with warning signals for systematic problems and objective evidence of testing quality. Areas to be improved and training needs will be identified. ISO 15189:2022 7.3.7.3 External Quality Assessment (EQA)

• The laboratory shall monitor its performance of examination methods, by comparison with results of other laboratories. This includes participation in EQA programs appropriate to the examinations and interpretation of examination results, including POCT examination methods.
• The laboratory shall establish a procedure for EQA enrollment, participation, and performance for examination methods used, where such programs are available.
• EQA samples shall be processed by personnel who routinely perform pre-examination, examination, and post-examination procedures.

Participation in an external quality assessment program provides valuable data and information that:

• allows comparison of performance and results among different test sites;
• provides early warning for systematic problems associated with kits or operations;
• provides objective evidence of testing quality;
• indicates areas that need improvement;
• Identify training needs.

In its operations, Biometrik Medical Laboratory also conducts External Quality Assessments twice every year. It obtained excellent and good scores for Hematology, Clinical Chemistry, Urine, and Immunoserology parameters. It is hoped that by continuing to follow the External Quality Assessment program, Biometrik Medical Laboratory will maintain the quality of work and results provided to customers.