Experiences with external quality assessment (EQA) in molecular diagnostics in clinical laboratories in Germany

The German Societies for Clinical Chemistry (DGKC) and Laboratory Medicine (DGLM) have established an official working group on molecular diagnostics in the field of laboratory medicine. The group's objectives are to support the establishment of molecular biology methods for the use in diagnostics i n German clinical laboratories. Towards this end, we have defined specific aims, which are 1)the implementation and extension of external quality asse ssment (EQA) schemes and methodological exercises offered to clinical diagn ostic laboratories, 2) the establishment of a proficiency network and data base within the societies, 3) the implementation of an educational program in molecular diagnostic procedures for clinical chemists and laboratory phy sicians through the organisation of symposia and workshops and 4) the coope ration with other DGKC/DGLM working groups on shared aspects of laboratory analysis, e.g. preanalytics. The focus of this presentation is to introduce some of these goals in more detail with particular emphasis on the first t wo program aspects and to discuss experiences with these activities.