Frequently Asked Questions

You can register for Point-Of-Care Testing via the registration form or here. Log in to the UK NEQAS IIA Point-Of-Care-Testing system with your Laboratory code, login ID, and password.

iEQA (Interpretative External Quality Assessment) is a web-based educational scheme which tests real-time proficiency. You can register for iEQA via the registration form or log in here once registered.

The correction factor for the NBA should only be used when the NBA is >0.007AU and when oxyhaemoglobin is present but there is no visible peak and where serum bilirubin is >20umol/L and the CSF protein is <1.0g/L. If the CSF protein is >1.0g/L it is not appropriate to use the correction factor as the correction formulae has not been validated in the population.

Please send in any complaints via the "Complaints & Appeals" section via the Contact Us page.

Distributions are made at four, eight or twelve weekly intervals according to a Distribution Schedule. This can be viewed or downloaded via this link.

We can provide back samples for verification, subject to stock availability. Please note that EQA samples are for verification purposes only and do not validate new methods.

For lost or damaged samples, or distributions with Incident Notifications, repeat samples can be requested at no extra charge. Visit the "Repeat Samples & Sample Information" section on the Contact Us page.

For some schemes, you can choose a method/units combination that matches your reporting style. If the correct combination is unavailable, contact us to request an update. Some schemes require participants to report results in standardised units for scoring consistency.

Yes, UK NEQAS IIA may provide anonymised data showing how different methods or analysers perform. To request this, visit the "Report Query" section under "Results & Reports" on the Contact Us page.

You can update method information during the next data entry. If no "Methods" tab is available for the scheme, you can provide details in the "Comments" section. If your method is not listed, submit the relevant information, including the manufacturer and product codes, in the comments box.

Changes to your registration can be made during the annual re-registration period. Outside of this period, visit the "Registration & Finance" section of the Contact Us page and select "Amend membership (add/remove scheme)."

If you have identified consistent performance issues, refer to your internal SOPs and record the problem in your Quality Management System (QMS). You may review relevant videos from our Digital Academy to help interpret your reports. UK NEQAS IIA is also available to discuss your situation. If the issue persists, we may report your laboratory's performance to the appropriate National Quality Assurance Advisory Panel (NQAAP).

The ALTM or GLTM is used as the Assigned “Target” Value because it represents the best estimate of true values across laboratories. If your results consistently deviate from the ALTM, this may indicate an issue with your specific assay or method.

The Standard Uncertainty (U) of the Assigned "Target" Value is calculated as follows:

U = 1.25 x (SD / √NTRIM)

This value is displayed on participant reports to ensure that performance scores accurately reflect laboratory performance. If the Standard Uncertainty exceeds a threshold, participants will be notified through an appropriate comment on the report. For more information visit the Participation Handbook.

The ALTM or GLTM is typically used to harmonise results across laboratories, as harmonised results are essential for accurate clinical interpretation. In some instances, method means (MLTM or GLTM) may be used if significant differences exist between results from different methods.

The GLTM is similar to the MLTM, but it includes results from laboratories using related methods within predefined groups.

The MLTM is calculated using results from laboratories that utilise the same method. Discrepant results are trimmed similarly to the ALTM.

The ALTM is a recalculated mean after excluding results outside two or three standard deviations (SD) from the overall laboratory mean. For certain programmes, trimming is performed at the 10th and 90th percentiles instead.

The 12-month rolling window allows for the calculation of meaningful, cumulative statistics that reflect current laboratory performance while maintaining a balance with historical data.

Yes, historical reports from the past two years are available online. Log in to the UK NEQAS IIA Data Entry system with your Laboratory code, login ID, and password. Reports can be found under the "Results and Reports" section.

To view your reports, log in to the UK NEQAS IIA Data Entry system with your Laboratory code, login ID, and password. Reports can be found under the "Results and Reports" section.

Our Digital Academy provides video tutorials that explain how to interpret qualitative and quantitative reports. These can be accessed through the Participant login using your Laboratory code, login ID, and password.

Please report your results as you would to your service users. The online Data Entry system allows the use of "<" and ">" symbols but ensure there is no space between the symbol and the numeral (e.g., report "<5", not "< 5").

UK NEQAS IIA aims to process requests for Very Late or Amended results by the close of the next distribution. Until then, you will still have access to the original report, which contains the consensus means and targets for comparison.

UK NEQAS IIA only accepts requests to amend EQA results where the error was non-analytical, such as transcription mistakes. Each request must be supported by evidence. Amendments will not be authorised for errors due to pre-analytical or analytical issues that may affect patient outcomes.

Amendments after the closing date are accepted only for non-analytical errors, such as transcription mistakes, and must be accompanied by valid supporting evidence. Amend requests can be submitted via the "Results & Reports" section on the Contact Us page.

Results can be amended online before the distribution closing date by logging into the Data Entry system. Simply update your data and click the "Save" button.

Late results may be submitted by selecting "Results & Reports" on the Contact Us page and choosing "Late results." For very late submissions after the report has been published, supporting evidence must be attached.

To submit your results, navigate to the UK NEQAS IIA Homepage, select "Data Entry," and follow the instructions to log in using your unique Laboratory code, login ID, and password. Alternatively, if you use Labgnostic (previously NPEx), you can return your results via this platform.

UK NEQAS IIA uses rigorous quality assurance processes, including within-method variability data from participants, to ensure sample homogeneity. Stability is monitored through the comparison of results from multiple distributions. Additionally, formal degradation studies are conducted when necessary.

UK NEQAS IIA samples are freshly prepared prior to dispatch and are stable at ambient temperature during normal transit times. Upon receipt, all packages should be opened immediately. Samples may be stored for up to seven days under refrigeration (4 ± 3 °C), or frozen (-20 ± 6 °C) if longer storage is required. For analysis, thaw frozen samples at room temperature for 2-3 hours or warm refrigerated samples for one hour before use. Mix gently by inverting the tubes before analysis. A video on Sample Stability can be found in the Digital Academy. The video can be accessed through the Participant login using your Laboratory code, login ID, and password.

UK NEQAS IIA primarily utilises single donor human material (plasma, serum, CSF, and urine), with most of the serum and plasma sourced from NHS Blood and Transplant. Other materials are obtained from patient donations or select commercial suppliers. A video on Sample Donation can be found in the Digital Academy. The video can be accessed through the Participant login using your Laboratory code, login ID, and password.

UK NEQAS IIA consults with Steering Committees and Specialist Advisory Groups (SAGs) consisting of field experts and professional bodies. There are dedicated committees and groups such as the Immunology, Immunochemistry, and Neuroimmunology Steering Committees, as well as the Alkaline Phosphatase Isoenzyme SAG, which meet twice a year to provide guidance.

Currently, UK NEQAS IIA does not provide network reports. However, access to the EQA dashboard, results entry, and report downloads for multiple linked laboratories can be arranged. This allows for a unified review of reports or results submission using a single login. Please visit our Contact Us page and select "Registration & Finance > Registration Queries."

You can withdraw from any UK NEQAS IIA EQA programme at any time by submitting a written request through our online contact form under "Registration & Finance > Cancel Membership" or by emailing ukneqas@immqas.org.uk. Please note that withdrawals cannot be processed via phone. No automatic refunds are issued for partial year withdrawals. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to discontinue services during the re-registration process at the end of the financial year (April-March).

To register, please visit UK NEQAS IIA's programme page for detailed information on each EQA programme. You may also access the registration form directly via this link. Once you have completed the form, a quotation for the programmes of interest will be emailed to you. For registration enquiries, please visit our Contact Us page and select "Registration & Finance > Registration Queries." A video on Annual Re-Registration can be found in the Digital Academy. The video can be accessed through the Participant login using your Laboratory code, login ID, and password.

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The correction factor for the NBA should only be used when the NBA is >0.007AU and when oxyhaemoglobin is present but there is no visible peak and where the serum bilirubin is >20umol/L and the CSF protein is <1.0g/L. If the CSF protein is >1.0g/L it is not appropriate to use the correction factor as the correction formulae has not been validated in the population

You need to refresh your internet browser (2 green arrows at the side of the web address) to ensure the current report appears

You should check and update your method/analyser/manufacturer details when submitting results on the electronic data entry system

You need to click on the green question mark next to the analyte box. Select the method / manufacturer / unit as listed. If your options are not available select 'other' option and submit information in the text box (marked as a grey box with 3 dots). If the error persists email ukneqas@immqas.org.uk with your laboratory number, the Scheme and Distribution, where the error is occurring and the error message

You will need to complete send a request via our Contact Us page - choose the Sample Information & Repeat Samples option