Scheme Information Sheets

UK NEQAS for Serum Indices (HIL)

Scheme Particulars Indicative Details
Accreditation body UKAS
ISO/IEC Accreditation status ISO/IEC 17043:2010
UKAS Accredited Proficiency Testing Provider No 7860
Objective of Scheme Provides EQA coverage for serum indices: haemolysis (H), icterus (I) and lipaemia (L), both for quantitive and category data. Analyte X is a unique element of the Scheme that looks at the impact of the HIL in the specimen on a particular analyte.

The Scheme also collects and presents data on the current HIL cut-off that is in use by participating laboratories for Analyte X. The aim of this is to build up a library of the current variation in practice and provide laboratories with evidence of what they are doing compared to other users of the same method and other methods.

Analyte X will change from distribution to distribution, please report in your usual units. Analyte X may be a Chemistry analyte or an Immunoassay analyte
Pre-, Analytical, Post- status Pre/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 serum with or without exogenous added analyte
Programme Director(s) / Organiser(s) Rachel Marrington
Criteria for participation All, but overseas by courier
Nominal sample volume (mL) 0.4
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 (%)
Analyte 'X' ~ units MLTM ~ ~
Analyte 'X' Interpretation ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
H category Concentration the same as Haemolysis Index ~ ~ ~ ~
Haemolysis Index 0 – 20 g/L MLTM 10.0 15.0
I category Concentration the same as Icterus Index ~ ~ ~ ~
Icterus Index 0 – 1000 µmol/L MLTM 10.0 10.0
L category Concentration the same as Lipaemia Index ~ ~ ~ ~
Lipaemia Index 0 – 20 mmol/L MLTM 20.0 25.0
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

Last Updated: