It's a common thing, conflation of external quality assessment with NEQAS..........even PHE and NICE do it!

For sake of even handedness [sorry FM/DGB/JF et al] other providers are available for many tests in the UK, it should be the responsibility of the lab to make a proactive choice.

In making a pro-active decision about EQA provider for anything, I would recommend an excellent article on EQA best practice in last year's JClinPath - I would say that wouldn't I :-)

[D James, D Ames, B Lopez, R Still, P Twomey, W Simpson. External quality assessment - Best practice. J Clin Pathol 2014;67:651-655]

D James

-----Original Message-----
From: ACB Point-of-Care Testing [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Anne Dawnay
Sent: 16 February 2015 11:56
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: INR EQA

Why would your CCG insist on NEQAS?

best wishes
Anne
Dr Anne Dawnay PhD FRCPath
Consultant Biochemist
Clinical  Lead for Clinical Biochemistry & Chair UCLH POCT Committee
020 344 72954 direct dial


-----Original Message-----
From: ACB Point-of-Care Testing [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Quinn, Nigel
Sent: 16 February 2015 11:51
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: INR EQA

Hi Michelle,

We used to run with NEQAS but returns were pretty poor given most staff managed to re-constitute the material wrong or did not test it within the required time frame.

The WEQAS scheme was approx. half the cost of the NEQAS however you do have to manage all distributions and reports online yourself. Results seem to have improved with the WEQAS. I personally would go with WEQAS.

Regards,
Nigel.

Nigel Quinn
Technical lead/Point of Care Testing
Biochemistry Laboratory
Craigavon Area Hospital
Southern Health and Social Care Trust
Tel: 028 3861 2909


-----Original Message-----
From: ACB Point-of-Care Testing [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Helen Peat
Sent: 16 February 2015 11:42
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: INR EQA

I would have preferred to have gone with WEQAS as it is a liquid solution that operators would have less of an issue with using. However our CCG have insisted that for our anti coagulation patients that attend the clinic run at the hospital we must be in NEQAS so we have taken the decision to put all systems onto NEQAS.

 Helen Peat
Point of Care Co-ordinator. Acting Laboratory Manager, Biochemistry Dept

DDI:         07826875875
Internal: 15978
Email:       [log in to unmask]
Web:      http://www.uhb.nhs.uk

Clinical Laboratory Services, Level -1, Office 7 Pathology - University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Mindelsohn Way, Edgbaston Birmingham, B15 2WB


ð Delivering the best in care



-----Original Message-----
From: ACB Point-of-Care Testing [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Michelle Bennett
Sent: 16 February 2015 11:35
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: INR EQA

Hello to you all

Please can I ask which EQA schemes other Trusts are using for POCT INR testing?  We are currently using NEQAS, however, as we are moving toward the users performing the EQA on CoaguChek devices I wondered if the WEQAS scheme may be a better option as the material does not require reconstitution.  Does anyone have any experience with the WEQAS scheme, and is there a vast difference in the costs involved?

Many thanks

Michelle Bennett
POCT Coordinator
BTHFT

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