Scheme Information Sheets
UK NEQAS for Immunosuppressants
| 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 Therapeutic drug monitoring of Whole Blood Immunosuppressants: Ciclosporin, Tacrolimus, Sirolimus, Everolimis and Serum Mycophenolate. The Scheme distributes a number of manipulated and endogenous specimens covering a wide concentration range for all analytes. Seperate Specimens are provided for each Immunosuppressant (except for Ciclosporin and Tacrolimus which share the same Specimen) |
| Pre-, Analytical, Post- status | Analytical |
| Number of distributions per year (nominal) | 11 |
| Specimens per distribution | 3 (Separate specimens for each analyte, except Ciclosporin and Tacrolimus) |
| Number of Specimens per annum | 33 |
| Frequency of distribution | Monthly |
| Scoring system | ABC |
| Material distributed | Whole blood haemolysate (except MCP) or genuine clinical material for all analytes with or without exogenous added analyte. Base material for MCP is human serum |
| Programme Director(s) / Organiser(s) | Martin Roch |
| Criteria for participation | All, but overseas by courier |
| Nominal sample volume (mL) | 0.4 - 0.8 |
| Sample presentation TACs | Ciclosporin and Tacrolimus share a tube, Sirolimus, Everolimus and Mycophenolate (serum) are separate tubes |
| Data in Chemistry on-line Dashboard | Yes |
| Analyte | Approx Range | Default Units | Target Value | B Score Limit (%) | C Score Limit (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ciclosporin | 0 – 2000 | µg/L | ALTM | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Everolimus | 0 – 30 | µg/L | ALTM | 20.0 | 20.0 |
| Mycophenolate | 0 – 15 | mg/L | XALTM | 20.0 | 20.0 |
| Sirolimus | 0 – 30 | µg/L | ALTM | 20.0 | 20.0 |
| Tacrolimus | 0 – 30 | µg/L | ALTM | 10.0 | 15.0 |
| 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 |
