Demand for external support driving growth of EQA
“In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) Quality Controls Market” recently published by Markets and Markets has highlighted an overall significant growth within the Quality Control Market. Further growth is anticipated in the coming years with the Markets and Markets report estimating that the IVD QC market will be worth $979 million.
One area that is currently experiencing growth within this sector is the EQA segment, which Markets and Markets estimates to command a 6.6% share of the overall IVD market. The report is crediting growth within this segment to you, the customer, stating “…various end users or customers of IVD quality control products mostly prefer external support to run their quality control activities. For this, market players are largely focusing on providing external quality assurance (EQA) support”. As such companies such as Randox are being approached to provide EQA for a range of small, independent laboratories and large laboratory chains alike.
What other factors have contributed to this growth?
The adoption of ISO15189 and other similar standards is becoming mandatory in many countries, as discussed in a previous blog post. Accreditation highlights the accuracy and reliability of the patient results being released. ISO15189 states that “The laboratory shall participate in interlaboratory comparisons such as those organised by external quality assessment or proficiency testing schemes”. Therefore laboratory managers are employing EQA programmes in their laboratory to meet such requirements. EQA also enables laboratories to meet other accreditation requirements such as peer comparison and clinically relevant testing.
Selecting the right EQA for you
When selecting the right EQA scheme for your laboratory there are a number of considerations to be made; sample frequency, peer group numbers, report format, report turnaround and so on. According to a survey conducted by Randox Quality Control 55% of respondents listed sample frequency as the most important feature to be considered when selecting an EQA scheme. Sample frequency is an ongoing debate regarding EQA. However, schemes with frequent reporting will allow you to easily pinpoint when an error occurred and implement corrective actions with minimal disruption. Also making the top three key factors in this survey were; quality samples and peer group numbers.
What can Randox Quality Control offer?
As the largest international EQA scheme available on the market RIQAS offers laboratories around the world assurance that the results they are releasing are accurate and reliable. With more than 40,000 participant in 124 countries and 32 flexible programmes we are certain that the external support we offer for your quality control activities will provide you with the upmost confidence in your laboratory’s performance. Furthermore with our programmes accepted by national and international accreditation bodies worldwide employing RIQAS can help you gain accredited status providing your end users with peace of mind. With other benefits such as programme consolidation, rapid report turnaround, easy to read at-a-glance reporting and the ability to register up to 5 instruments per programme at no extra cost why don’t you contact us today and find out how we can support your quality control activity?
To request a visit from a QC consultant contact us via acusera@randox.com
One RIQAS Haematology Sample
With over 40,000 laboratory participants in 124 countries, RIQAS is truly the largest international External Quality Assessment (EQA) scheme. The large volume of participants is testament to the quality of our material and highlights further the trust and confidence laboratories have in RIQAS to help them accurately report their patient results.
RIQAS is world renowned for delivering flexible EQA solutions to help laboratories reduce the number of programmes required. Our RIQAS portfolio covers most areas of clinical testing including Haematology.
Our RIQAS Haematology programme combines 11 parameters in total and comprises the full blood count into a single sample. Designed with user convenience in mind, samples are supplied in a liquid ready-to-use format in primary tubes. Coupled with user-friendly reports, enabling at-a-glance performance assessment, preparation and evaluation time will be dramatically reduced in even the most demanding of laboratories.
Errors will be identified early thanks to the bi-weekly analysis of the Haematology programme, while reports are ready within a maximum of 72 hours from the date of submission and accreditation to ISO 17043:2010 allows the laboratory to take any necessary corrective actions.
Cat No. Kit Size Frequency Parameters
RQ9118 6 x 2ml Bi-weekly Eleven (11)
Parameters
- Haemoglobin (Hb)
- Mean Cell Volume (MCV)
- Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)
- Red Blood Cell Count (RBC)
- Mean Platelet Volume
- Plateletcrit
- Haematocrit (HCT)
- Mean Cell Haemoglobin (MCH)
- Platelets (PLT)
- Total White Blood Cell Count (WBC)
- Red Cell Dist. Width
Request your FREE RIQAS consultation
Allow our RIQAS consultants to provide your laboratory with a free consultation to demonstrate how RIQAS can consolidate the number of EQA programmes required to cover your test menu, saving your laboratory precious time and money.
Simply fill out the form below to request a consultation today!
CYFRA 21-1 External Quality Assessment
The RIQAS CYFRA 21-1 EQA programme is designed to cover the analysis of CYFRA 21-1 in clinical laboratories when monitoring the response to treatment of cancers such as non-small cell lung carcinoma, cervical, breast and bladder cancer.
- Lyophilised samples
- Monthly reporting
- Testing covers the full range of clinically relevant decision levels
- Submit results and view reports online via RIQAS.net
- 12 month subscription
Not accredited to ISO/IEC 17043
| Cat No | Kit Size | Frequency | Cycle Start | Parameters | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RQ9175 | 12 x 1ml | Monthly | March | 1 | |
Parameter
- CYFRA 21-1 (Cytokeratin 19)
Please note, product availability may vary country to country.
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Anti-TSH Receptor External Quality Assessment
The RIQAS Anti-TSH Receptor EQA programme is designed to cover the analysis of Anti-TSH Receptor in clinical laboratories when thyroid dysfunction is suspected.
- Lyophilised samples
- Monthly reporting
- Testing covers the full range of clinically relevant decision levels
- Submit results and view reports online via RIQAS.net
- 12 month subscription
Not accredited to ISO/IEC 17043
| Cat No | Kit Size | Frequency | Cycle Start | Parameters | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RQ9174 | 12 x 1ml | Monthly | March | 1 | |
Parameter
- Anti-TSH Receptor (TRAb)
Please note, product availability may vary country to country.
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Immunosuppressant External Quality Assessment
The RIQAS Immunosuppressant EQA programme has been designed to cover the analysis of Immunosuppressants in clinical laboratories. Immunosuppressants are primarily used after transplant operations to prevent the host body from rejecting donor organs.
- Lyophilised samples
- Monthly reporting
- Testing covers the full range of clinically relevant decision levels
- Submit results and view reports online via RIQAS.net
- 12 month subscription
- LC/MS reference values provided enabling participants to compare results to an accurately assigned value
Not accredited to ISO/IEC 17043
| Cat No | Kit Size | Frequency | Cycle Start | Parameters | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RQ9159 | 12 x 2ml | Monthly | March | 4 | |
Parameters
- Cyclosporin
- Everolimus
- Sirolimus
- Tacrolimus
Please note, product availability may vary country to country.
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Sweat Testing External Quality Assessment
The RIQAS Sweat Testing EQA programme has been designed to cover the analysis of Sweat Testing in clinical laboratories measuring the concentration of Chloride and Conductivity in sweat, used in the testing of Cystic Fibrosis (CF).
- Liquid ready-to-use samples
- Monthly reporting
- Testing covers the full range of clinically relevant decision levels
- Submit results and view reports online via RIQAS.net
- 12 month subscription
Not accredited to ISO/IEC 17043
| Cat No | Kit Size | Frequency | Cycle Start | Parameters | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RQ9173 | 12 x 2ml | Monthly | March | 2 | |
Parameter
- Chloride
- Conductivity
Please note, product availability may vary country to country.
CSF External Quality Assessment
The RIQAS Cerebrospinal Fluid EQA programme has been designed to monitor the performance of CSF in clinical laboratories where samples are tested to diagnose a range of medical disorders.
- Liquid ready-to-use samples
- Monthly reporting
- Testing covers the full range of clinically relevant decision levels
- Submit results and view reports online via RIQAS.net
- 12 month subscription
Not accredited to ISO/IEC 17043
| Cat No | Kit Size | Frequency | Cycle Start | Parameters | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RQ9168 | 12 x 3ml | Monthly | March | 7 | |
Parameters
- Albumin (conc)
- Chloride
- Glucose
- IgG
- Lactate
- Total Protein
- Sodium
Please note, product availability may vary country to country.
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Ammonia/Ethanol External Quality Assessment
Combining Ammonia and Ethanol in a single RIQAS programme, participants can consolidate their EQA requirements whilst reducing costs. All samples are supplied liquid ready-to-use at the start of the cycle for added convenience and will cover a range of clinically significant concentrations.
- Liquid ready-to-use samples
- Monthly reporting
- Comprehensive yet user friendly reports for quick assessment of performance
- Submit results and view reports online via RIQAS.Net
- Register up to five instruments per programme (volume permitting) at no extra cost for comparative performance assessment
- Accredited to ISO/IEC 17043
| Cat No | Kit Size | Frequency | Cycle Start | Parameters | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RQ9164 | 12 x 2ml | Monthly (1 x 12 month cycle) | September | 2 | |
Parameters
- Ammonia
- Ethanol
Please note, product availability may vary country to country.
