Scheme Information Sheets
UK NEQAS for Steroid Hormones
| 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 Steroid Assays. Separate specimens are provided for each Steroid (except Testosterone and SHBG which share the same specimen). This allows predominantly endogenous material to be able to be used, thus giving you confidence in the performance of your assay. Immunoassays are prone to interference therefore it is important to use minimally manipulated material |
| 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 or single donations of liquid human serum (or urine for UFC and lyophilised EDTA plasma for Renin) with or without exogenous added analyte |
| Programme Director(s) / Organiser(s) | Finlay MacKenzie |
| Criteria for participation | All, but overseas by courier |
| Nominal sample volume (mL) | 0.5 - 1.5 |
| Sample presentation TACs | Individual tubes for all Steroids except Testosterone and SHBG which share a tube (separate tubes for male and female Testosterone) |
| Data in Chemistry on-line Dashboard | Yes |
| Analyte | Approx Range | Default Units | Target Value | B Score Limit (%) | C Score Limit (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17OH-Progesterone | 1 – 90 | nmol/L | OMLTM | 15.0 | 20.0 |
| Aldosterone | 100 – 2000 | pmol/L | OMLTM | 20.0 | 20.0 |
| Androstenedione | 1 – 40 | nmol/L | OMLTM | 15.0 | 20.0 |
| Cortisol | 80 – 1400 | nmol/L | OMLTM | 15.0 | 20.0 |
| Dexamethasone | 0.5 – 50 | nmol/L | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| DHA sulphate | 2 – 36 | µmol/L | OMLTM | 30.0 | 15.0 |
| * Free Androgen Index | 0 – 100 | ~ | ALTM | 20.0 | 25.0 |
| Free Testosterone | 0 – 1000 | pmol/L | ALTM | 15.0 | 20.0 |
| Oestradiol [E2] | 40 – 10000 | pmol/L | ALTM | 15.0 | 20.0 |
| Oestradiol [high-level] | 500 – 32000 | pmol/L | ALTM | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Prednisolone | 20 – 1500 | nmol/L | ALTM | 25.0 | 30.0 |
| Progesterone | 1 – 90 | nmol/L | ALTM | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Renin | 2 – 550 | mIU/L | ALTM | 35.0 | 40.0 |
| SHBG [female] | 12 – 300 | nmol/L | ALTM | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| SHBG [male] | 12 – 200 | nmol/L | ALTM | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Testosterone [female] | 0.2 – 6 | nmol/L | OMLTM | 20.0 | 25.0 |
| Testosterone [male] | 6 – 40 | nmol/L | OMLTM | 15.0 | 20.0 |
| Urinary Free Cortisol | 50 – 800 | nmol/L | OMLTM | 20.0 | 20.0 |
* Please note to register for the Free Androgen Index [FAI] your laboratory will need to register for female Testosterone, Female SHBG and Free Androgen Index [FAI]. For Free Testosterone [FREET] your lab will need to register for male Testosterone, male SHBG and Free Testosterone [FREET]
| 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 |
