title: Development of a World Federation of Hemophilia External Quality Assessment Scheme: results of a pilot study.
abstract: A World Federation of Hemophilia External Quality Assessment Scheme has been established to promote high standards of laboratory performance in haemophilia centres worldwide. Twenty-two International Haemophilia Training Centres (IHTCs) participated in a pilot study designed to assess between-laboratory agreement and to establish target values for the prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, factor VIII:C, IX:C and von Willebrand factor assays. Although variations in results and clinical interpretations were observed between the centres, median results and assay precision were comparable to that seen in the United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Scheme. IHTC-generated median results were therefore considered appropriate target values against which to compare the performance of haemophilia centres in developing countries.
authors.affiliation: UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield I. Jennings, B.Sc., M.Phil., F.I.B.M.S., Deputy Manager, UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation, Room E24, E Floor, CSUH, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield S10 2JF.*S. Kitchen, F.I.B.M.S., Laboratory Scientist, UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation, Sheffield.T. A. L. Woods, F.I.B.M.S., Scheme Manager, UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation, Sheffield.F. E. Preston, M.D., F.R.C.P., F.R.C.Path., Director, UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation, Sheffield.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.affiliation: UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield I. Jennings, B.Sc., M.Phil., F.I.B.M.S., Deputy Manager, UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation, Room E24, E Floor, CSUH, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield S10 2JF.*S. Kitchen, F.I.B.M.S., Laboratory Scientist, UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation, Sheffield.T. A. L. Woods, F.I.B.M.S., Scheme Manager, UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation, Sheffield.F. E. Preston, M.D., F.R.C.P., F.R.C.Path., Director, UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation, Sheffield.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kitchen
authors.affiliation: UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield I. Jennings, B.Sc., M.Phil., F.I.B.M.S., Deputy Manager, UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation, Room E24, E Floor, CSUH, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield S10 2JF.*S. Kitchen, F.I.B.M.S., Laboratory Scientist, UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation, Sheffield.T. A. L. Woods, F.I.B.M.S., Scheme Manager, UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation, Sheffield.F. E. Preston, M.D., F.R.C.P., F.R.C.Path., Director, UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation, Sheffield.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.affiliation: UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield I. Jennings, B.Sc., M.Phil., F.I.B.M.S., Deputy Manager, UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation, Room E24, E Floor, CSUH, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield S10 2JF.*S. Kitchen, F.I.B.M.S., Laboratory Scientist, UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation, Sheffield.T. A. L. Woods, F.I.B.M.S., Scheme Manager, UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation, Sheffield.F. E. Preston, M.D., F.R.C.P., F.R.C.Path., Director, UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation, Sheffield.
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Preston
keywords: External Quality Assessment; International Haemophilia Training Centres; factor IX:C; factor VIII:C; von Willebrand factor