Scheme Information Sheets
UK NEQAS for Newborn Screening
| 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 for the biochemistry analytes that form the basis of the UK Newborn Screning Programme at concentrations likely to be encountered for both normal and abnormal levels. This dedicated Scheme accomodates ratios and the pathways used by Screening Laboratories. Laboratories in the British Isles receive an extra report for British Isles data only |
| 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 | Blood Spots |
| Programme Director(s) / Organiser(s) | Finlay MacKenzie |
| Criteria for participation | All |
| Nominal sample volume (mL) | 0.035 per blood spot |
| Sample presentation TACs | All analytes in the same dried blood spot for each specimen |
| Data in Chemistry on-line Dashboard | Yes |
| Analyte | Approx Range | Default Units | Target Value | B Score Limit (%) | C Score Limit (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C10 | 0 – 6 | µmol/L WB | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| C5 | 0 – 8 | µmol/L WB | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| C5DC | 0 – 2 | µmol/L WB | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| C8/C10 ratio | 0.1 – 30 | ~ | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| CF interpretation | ~ | N or P | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| CHT interpretation | ~ | N, B or P | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| Final C8 | 0 – 6 | µmol/L WB | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| Final IRT | 10 – 200 | ng/mL [µg/L] WB | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| Final Phe | 20 – 2000 | µmol/L WB | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| Final TSH | 0 – 250 | mU/L WB | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| Initial C8 | 0 – 6 | µmol/L WB | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| Initial C8 interpretation | ~ | N or F | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| Initial IRT | 10 – 200 | ng/mL [µg/L] WB | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| Initial IRT interpretation | ~ | N or F | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| Initial Phe | 20 – 2000 | µmol/L WB | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| Initial Phe interpretation | ~ | N or F | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| Initial TSH | 0 – 250 | mU/L WB | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| Initial TSH interpretation | ~ | N or F | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| Leu | 50 – 1200 | µmol/L WB | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| MCADD interpretation | ~ | N or P | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| Met | 5 – 250 | µmol/L WB | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| PKU interpretation | ~ | N, P or O | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| Tyr | 30 – 2000 | µmol/L WB | 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 |
