TESTS OF HAEMOSTASIS assessed by UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation Registration The nominated participant, normally the person with overall responsibility for the laboratory, is requested to register for all tests included in UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation, which their laboratory offers as a service. As part of registration, participants are requested to formally agree to adhere to the Joint Working Group’s Conditions of Participation in UK EQA Schemes. With the few exceptions indicated in these Conditions, the Director is obliged to observe strict confidentiality regarding individual performance. | Level 1 (Screening tests) | Level 2 (Assays) | | Prothrombin Time (PT)/INR (Quick and/or capillary methods) | | Factor II assay | | PT (diagnostic) | | Factor V assay | | Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) | | Factor VII assay | | Heparin Assay (HA) | | Factor VIII:C assay | | Thrombin Time (TT) | | Factor IX:C assay | | Fibrinogen evaluation | | Factor X assay | | D-Dimer | | Factor XI assay | | Lupus anticoagulant | | Factor XII assay | | | | Factor XIII screen | | | | Quantitative VIII inhibitor | | | | Von Willebrand Factor antigen assay | | | | VWF:RCo (activity) assay | | | | Antithrombin antigen assay | | | | Antithrombin activity assay | | | | Protein C antigen assay | | | | Protein C activity assay | | | | Protein S total and free antigen assays Protein S activity assay | | | | Plasminogen assay Activated Protein C resistance assay | | | | | | | | |
Registered Participants | UK (NHS & Private/Commercial): | 596 | | Republic of Ireland | 54 | | Other European Union | 69 | | Rest of the World | 196 | | Total number of participants | 915 | | | |
Surveys Six exercises are distributed each financial year. Surveys distributed in March and July currently include samples for PT/INR and APTT tests only. The remaining four surveys include, on average, four tests from Level 1 (screening tests) and at least two samples for factor assays in Level 2, one of which will be for factor VIII:C assay. At least three of the four Level 2 surveys will also include samples for thrombophilia screening (Protein C, Protein S, Antithrombin, Activated Protein C resistance). Details of tests to be included in each survey are indicated in individual reports three months prior to survey distribution. All samples are of lyophilised plasma, from donors screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and for antibodies to hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 (anti HIV-1+2). In the majority of cases, samples are from single donations. In addition to six main programme distributions, relevant supplementary exercises are distributed on an ad-hoc basis to address current issues in haemostasis. UK NEQAS FOR BLOOD COAGULATION SURVEYS IN 2006/2007 Distribution dates for the new financial year, 1st April 2006 to 31st March 2007: Survey 157 21 March 2006 Survey 158 23 May 2006 Survey 159 11 July 2006 Survey 160 19 September 2006 Survey 161 21 November 2006 Survey 162 16 January 2007 Annual Participation Fees Please contact the Manager (Tim Woods: Tim.Woods@coageqa.org.uk) for information on participation fees in all UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation programmes. |
