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Diagnostic allergy laboratory external proficiency testing in Europe
1Cardiff Royal Infirmary, Cardiff, Great Britian.
Methods (San Diego, Calif.)
|September 1, 1997
Summary
External Quality Assessment (EQA) for allergen-specific immunoglobulin E antibody testing ensures laboratory accuracy. A European cooperation scheme standardizes methods, improving reliability for clinicians and patient safety.
Area of Science:
- Clinical immunology
- Diagnostic laboratory science
Background:
- External proficiency testing is crucial for diagnostic laboratory tests, including allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody testing.
- Variability in results can occur with different methods for serum IgE testing.
- Historically, European External Quality Assessment (EQA) schemes operated nationally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the organization of a harmonized European EQA scheme for allergen-specific IgE antibody testing.
- To present the results from this cooperative EQA scheme over the past 12 months.
Main Methods:
- A cooperative scheme was established 5 years ago, involving national schemes adopting common serum pools.
- Standardized distribution dates and a common report format were implemented across participating European countries.
- The EUROEQAS circulates a unified report to all participants.
Main Results:
- The article details the organizational structure of the European cooperative EQA scheme.
- Results generated over the last 12 months are presented, reflecting the scheme's performance.
Conclusions:
- Harmonized EQA schemes, like the European cooperative model, are essential for standardizing allergen-specific IgE testing.
- Such schemes enhance laboratory quality and contribute to patient safety by ensuring reliable diagnostic results.