A study coordinated by the
IFCC Committee on Education in the Use of Biomarkers in Diabetes (C-EUBD)
Birmingham Quality are participating in the annual EurA1c trial for the first time in October 2025. This is a study coordinated by the IFCC Committee on Education in the Use of Biomarkers in Diabetes (C-EUBD) each year, to investigate the performance of HbA1c assays across countries and manufacturers. Many EQA providers across Europe participate in the EurA1c trial each year, distributing the same material within their schemes in October. The aim of the project is to evaluate and present results in terms of performance per country and per manufacturer.
The EurA1c trial is annual study, run by the IFCC-EUBD (Education in the Use of Biomarkers in Diabetes) group. Each year EQA providers around around the world take part in the study by distributing two specimens, provided by the EurA1c trial group, to all their participants. The results from all providers are then collated and evaluated to assess the performance of HbA1c methodologies per country and per manufacturer. By collecting this data, the group is working to improve the quality of measurement of HbA1c. Birmingham Quality is participating for the first time in October 2025.
The specimens are being distributed as part of the normal UK NEQAS for Glycated Haemoglobins distribution, therefore you need to measure them to submit your EQA results. But more than that, the results that you submit to us will be contributing to a very important piece of work, even more so given the clinical incidents around HbA1c measurement that have occurred in recent times.
No, these specimens are fresh human whole blood, without any manipulation and have been designed to have clinically important HbA1c concentrations. We can therefore include them in our routine UK NEQAS for Glycated Haemoglobin Scheme.
No, participating in the study will not cost you any extra money on top of your participation in the UK NEQAS for Glycated Haemoglobins scheme.
The study requires results to be broken down by manufacturer in more detail than we currently do. We know that sometimes our manufacturer/method data is incorrect, therefore we are taking this opportunity to update our database too.
Yes, we will be checking the information provided in the MS Form against the information associated with your registration in the UK NEQAS for Glycated Haemoglobins scheme.
Yes, you will receive your usual UK NEQAS for Glycated Haemoglobin report and the final study report will be publicly available in due course. We will notify all participants when this is available.
No, the material provided by EurA1c is unmanipulated human whole blood, which is the same as most of the material distributed within the UK NEQAS for Glycated Haemoglobins scheme.
The specimens provided are fresh whole blood. For results to be useful in the study, specimens must be analysed before midnight Friday 24th October.
The closing date for result submission for EQA is midnight on Monday 3rd November 2025.
No matter what, please analyse all specimens; just enter the dates on the Results and Reports page online.
No, we will be unable to provide repeat specimens for Distribution 505.
The specimens have been provided by the coordinators of the EurA1c trial, pre-aliquotted.
No. The only information that we will be sharing with the EurA1c study is information regarding your methodology for HbA1c measurement, and your results for Samples 505A and 505B.
No, so long as you have performed the analysis by Friday 24th October, and have accurately recorded the date of receipt and date of analysis of your specimens.
