Scheme Information Sheets
UK NEQAS for Urinary Catecholamines & Metabolites
| Scheme Particulars | Indicative Details |
|---|---|
| Accreditation body | UKAS |
| ISO/IEC Accreditation status | ISO/IEC 17043:2023 |
| UKAS Accredited Proficiency Testing Provider No | 7860 |
| Objective of Scheme | Provides EQA coverage and analytical assessment for the measurement of Metanephrines, Catecholamines and VMA,HVA and 5-HIAA in urine. These analytes are measured in the Laboratory investigations of the diagnosis of rare tumours such as Pheochromocytoma and Neuroblastoma. The Scheme distributes a number of manipulated and endogenous urine specimens covering a wide concentration range for each analyte. This dedicated scheme also offers the measurement of both Free and Total Metanephrines and Free and Total Catecholamines in urine through the inclusion of different forms of each analyte |
| Pre-, Analytical, Post- status | Analytical |
| Number of distributions per year (nominal) | 11 |
| Specimens per distribution | 3 |
| Number of Specimens per annum | 33 |
| Frequency of distribution | Monthly |
| Scoring system | ABC |
| Material distributed | Pooled, liquid human urine with or without exogenous added analyte |
| Programme Director(s) / Organiser(s) | Finlay MacKenzie |
| Criteria for participation | All, but overseas by courier |
| Nominal sample volume (mL) | 5 |
| Sample presentation TACs | All analytes in the same tube |
| Data in Chemistry on-line Dashboard | Yes |
| Analyte | Approx Range | Default Units | Target Value | B Score Limit (%) | C Score Limit (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5HIAA | 10 – 100 | µmol/24hr | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| Free 3-Methoxytyramine | 0 – 5 | µmol/24hr | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| Free Adrenaline | 0 – 1.2 | µmol/24hr | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| Free Dopamine | 0.5 – 15 | µmol/24hr | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| Free Metadrenaline | 0 – 10 | µmol/24hr | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| Free Noradrenaline | 0 – 2.5 | µmol/24hr | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| Free Normetadrenaline | 0 – 10 | µmol/24hr | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| HVA | 10 – 100 | µmol/24hr | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| Total 3-methoxytyramine | 0 – 5 | µmol/24hr | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| Total Adrenaline | 0 – 1.2 | µmol/24hr | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| Total Dopamine | 0.5 – 15 | µmol/24hr | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| Total Metadrenaline | 0 – 20 | µmol/24hr | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| Total Noradrenaline | 0 – 2.5 | µmol/24hr | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| Total Normetadrenaline | 0 – 30 | µmol/24hr | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| VMA [HMMA] | 10 – 350 | µmol/24hr | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| Abbreviation | Expansion |
|---|---|
| ALTM | All Laboratory Trimmed Mean |
| GLTM | Group Laboratory Trimmed Mean – which is the Method Principle Mean |
| MLTM | Method Laboratory Trimmed Mean – usually a manufacturer system / analyser mean |
| XALTM | An external value that may be from a Reference Method System |
| OGLTM | A Method Principle Mean used as the target for all laboratories |
| OMLTM | A specific Method Mean used as a target for all laboratories |
| MED | Median |
