title: An Internet-based external quality assessment in cytogenetics that audits a laboratory's analytical and interpretative performance.
abstract: A novel approach to external quality assessment (EQA) using the Internet mimics the diagnostic situation so that multiple tests can be requested and EQA cases can be 'tailor made' to address a specific chromosome syndrome, disease, or clinical dilemma. The web-based EQA system was trialled on a large UK EQA scheme, UK NEQAS for Clinical Cytogenetics. It has also been used to implement a new Cytogenetics European Quality Assessment scheme, CEQA, set up with the intention of providing laboratories in countries without access to a local EQA scheme the opportunity of participation in EQA. Overall, Internet-based EQA allows for a varied EQA programme. Poor performance was detected in both CEQA and UK NEQAS constitutional EQA schemes and also in the UK NEQAS oncology EQA scheme. The Internet-based EQA overcomes submission delays due to international surface mail. There is also a reduction in administration and assessors' time compared to a retrospective EQA involving the submission of unique cases for EQA assessment, as participants analyse the same three Internet-based EQA cases simultaneously. Many EU27 (EU member states) laboratories still do not participate in their national EQA schemes, so until EQA participation becomes mandatory as a component of compulsory laboratory accreditation, the quality of laboratory diagnostic service is unpredictable.
authors.affiliation: United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service (UK NEQAS) for Clinical Cytogenetics, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK. ros.hastings@orh.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Rosalind J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hastings
authors.forename: Eddy J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Quellhorst-Pawley
authors.forename: Rodney T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Howell
mesh_terms: D002889:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 2; D003582:Cytogenetics / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards*; D008677:Metaphase; D011786:Quality Control