External Quality Assessment Schemes: need for recognised requirements

Programs for Accreditation of clinical laboratories consider participation in External Quality Assessment Schemes (EQAS) a key element in the evaluati on of testing procedures and improving them. One of the main functions of E QAS is to assess whether laboratories perform tests competently. It is ther efore of utmost importance for laboratories to participate in EQAS that are in line with formally recognised requirements. Specific proposals have bee n made on how to design and execute EQAS by International Working Groups, b ut there seems to be no consensus on the best strategies to use and quality specifications to see out. The Clinical Pathology Accreditation (CPA) Prog ram for EQA Scheme Accreditation (CPA-EQA) is the only program in Europe to provide a formal recognition of the quality of EQAS activities. The presen t paper reports on the experience of the Centre of Biomedical Research whic h is following an accreditation process for their own schemes in line with the CPA-EQA program and a proposal to set requirements that Italian schemes must follow to be recognised as valid and effective. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sci ence B.V. All rights reserved.