Scheme Information Sheets
UK NEQAS for Ammonia [Pilot]
Birmingham Quality is pleased to announce a pilot scheme for the analysis of Ammonia.
Ammonia is measured to diagnose and monitor hyperammonaemia. It is used to help diagnosis hepatic encephalopathy in severe liver disease, inherited urea cycle disorders, and Reye’s syndrome.
| Scheme Particulars | Indicative Details |
|---|---|
| Accreditation body | Not yet accredited |
| ISO/IEC Accreditation status | Pilot scheme - not yet accredited to ISO/IEC 17043:2023 |
| UKAS Accredited Proficiency Testing Provider No | Not yet accredited |
| Objective of Scheme | Provides EQA coverage and analytical assessment using both endogenous and manipulated material for Ammonia. The scheme covers the analytical working range up to 800 µmol/L, covering clinically important concentrations. |
| 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 | Pooled, liquid human serum with or without exogenous added analyte |
| Programme Director(s) / Organiser(s) | Finlay MacKenzie |
| Criteria for participation | All UK. No overseas participants served by distributors. Other overseas considered on case by case basis. |
| Nominal sample volume (mL) | 0.5 |
| Sample presentation TACs | Single analyte scheme |
| Data in Chemistry on-line Dashboard | Yes |
| Analyte | Approx Range | Default Units | Target Value | B Score Limit (%) | C Score Limit (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia | 30 – 800 | µmol/L | ALTM | 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 |
- Ammonia 2025 schedule 48 KB
Please use the sign up form to register your interest in this scheme (quoting your UK NEQAS Laboratory ID where available). We would encourage you to provide us with details of which analytes you measure and the analyser and ‘kit’ (reagent and calibrator) you are using. This will help us tailor the scheme to your needs.
