Scheme Information Sheets
Birmingham Quality SSS Bone Markers
Birmingham Quality is pleased to announce a pilot scheme for the analysis of Bone Markers.
This pilot scheme will be operated in an identical fashion to other schemes from the Birmingham Quality centre.
Free of charge, if participant is a registered for the UK NEQAS for Vitamin D Scheme.
Participants can register for this service and not belong to the UK NEQAS for Vitamin D Scheme, but they will be required to pay postage / courier fees
| 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 | The Birmingham Quality SSS for Bone Markers assesses the laboratory performance of a number of Bone Markers. Endogenous material is used where possible, supplemented by spiked specimens. This is a complement to the UK NEQAS for Vitamin D Scheme and as such will be dispatched with the UK NEQAS for Vitamin D specimens |
| Pre-, Analytical, Post- status | Analytical |
| Number of distributions per year (nominal) | 6 |
| Specimens per distribution | 3 |
| Number of Specimens per annum | 18 |
| Frequency of distribution | Bimonthly |
| Scoring system | ABC |
| Material distributed | Single donation and pooled, liquid human serum/plasma with or without exogenous added analyte |
| Programme Director(s) / Organiser(s) | Rachel Marrington |
| Criteria for participation | All |
| Nominal sample volume (mL) | 0.5 |
| Sample presentation TACs | Serum analytes in one tube, plasma CTx in separate tube |
| Data in Chemistry on-line Dashboard | Yes |
| Analyte | Approx Range | Default Units | Target Value | B Score Limit (%) | C Score Limit (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bone ALP | 0 – 80 | µg/L | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| CTX | 0 – 1 | µg/L | ALTM | ~ | ~ |
| Osteocalcin | 0 – 80 | µg/L | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| P1NP | 10 – 150 | µg/L | ALTM | ~ | ~ |
| 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 |
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.
