Factors to consider before registering

• There is a mandatory requirement to return all results for all specimens for all analytes in all distributions before the result submission deadline (i.e. 100% participation rate). Late and amended results will be classed as poor performance and will not be accepted.
• Laboratories are expected to engage with all value-added elements of the scheme e.g. Q&A surveys.
• It will not be possible to switch back to the fortnightly UK NEQAS for Clinical Chemistry Scheme once you have enrolled for the UK NEQAS Monthly Clinical Chemistry Scheme.

Is this service accredited?

Yes. The UK NEQAS Monthly Clinical Chemistry Scheme is ISO/IEC 17043:2023 Accredited.

Is this service available on NPEx?

Automated transfer of results is currently only available for existing “BQ-NPEx” users.

Is monthly Clinical Chemistry cheaper than fortnightly Clinical Chemistry?

The monthly Clinical Chemistry Scheme has a slightly lower price than the fortnightly scheme (at re-registration) and additional cost savings are possible on reagents. However, the key saving is creating additional laboratory resource to focus on analytical/clinical quality monitoring and improvement facilitated by EQA participation. If you are an existing UK NEQAS for Clinical Chemistry participant and wish to change to the Monthly Clinical Chemistry Scheme after re-registration, you can; however, you will need to pay the UK NEQAS for Clinical Chemistry fees. If you are a new or returning participant to the Clinical Chemistry scheme, you can benefit from the reduced fees.

What happens for analytes or methods with small numbers of users?

We have specific approaches to data processing for [1] any analyte where there is only a small number of users or [2] for any analyte where a method target would normally be used but for which your method does not have many users. If this affects you, please look at our Participants’ Manual. The relevant section is Data Processing / Calculation of Target Values / No target value.

How and when can I register?

You do not need to wait for the annual re-registration process for 2026/2027 to join the UK NEQAS Monthly Clinical Chemistry Scheme. Please register your interest in joining or transferring to the scheme via our Sign Up page.

Please note that the deadlines for registering for a particular distribution of UK NEQAS Monthly Clinical Chemistry are provided below. Registration changes made after these dates will not be applied until the following distribution. These deadlines allow Birmingham Quality to make the requisite logistical changes.

Please note that it will not be possible to issue reimbursement for Laboratories that opted to enrol for the fortnightly, traditional UK NEQAS for Clinical Chemistry Scheme during the 2025/2026 re-registration cycle.

If you have any other queries, please contact birminghamquality@uhb.nhs.uk.

Finlay

Finlay MacKenzie
Director of Birmingham Quality, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
May 2025