# Presentation: 225588

## Global overview

- _national EQASs:_ 				about **80** **countries**
- _Size_:		** ****	****	****7 to  more than 30 000 laboratories **
- _Supervision_:	Countries with limited resources	**health authorities**
**	****	**Majority of industrialized cs.:	**NGOs & private ****	****	****	****	****	****	****       institutions**
- _Organization:_   countries with limited resources	**mainly centralized**
- 		 Industialized cs.			**decentralized, ****	****	****	****	****	****	****regionalized, decentralized**

## Sustainability  & organization of EQASs  (Janet Nicholson)

- 1. Sustainability of EQAS programmes considering
- political, financial technical issues (government support - self-sustained – external support)
- 2. Successful structures of programmes
- what are suitable indicators of success?
- EQAS management independent or  by clinical laboratory?

## Operational characteristics of  surveys 	(Bill Donohue)

**Responsibility of provider for**
- disclosing information on quality of q.c. materials to participants?
- for interpretation of  results of laboratory's performance?

## External review & programme quality indicators (Lloyd Penberthy)

- 1.	PT/EQA programmes  self-regulated or  externally reviewed, considering
- 	-	infrastructures of countries
- 	-	availability  of authorized bodies for external audit
- 2.	Relevant quality indicators of PT/EQA programmes,
- 	-	technical?
- 	-	medical?

##  Objectives &  harmonization of EQASs  (Chris Hamilton)

- Educational vs. regulatory aims as EQAS objectives considering
- national health care  legislation and regulations
- professional structure of laboratory services
- 2.  Harmonization /standardization considering
- efficiency  of NGOs in standard setting
- criteria for standard setting: technical and/or medical?

## Standardization &  laboratory audits  (Harold Richardson)

- 1. EQA/PT's role in standardization of tests and measurement procedures?
- 	-	interaction of PT/providers with industry
- 	-	role of EQA providers in transfer of technology
- 2. Should PT/EQA providers  inspect laboratories  participating in their surveys?
- 	-	role of EQA providers in laboratory policy making
- 	-	role of EQA providers in management of national   	laboratory networks

## EQA/PT surveys  by
pre-assessed q.c. materials 
re-examination of  patient specimens
to detect poor laboratory performance?

Comparison of traditional PT and tutorial  PT, considering 
logistic concerns 
cost-effectiveness 

- pre-assessed q.c. materials
- re-examination of  patient specimens
- to detect poor laboratory performance?
- Comparison of traditional PT and tutorial  PT, considering
- logistic concerns
- cost-effectiveness

**Conducting EQA/PT  ****(Nicholas Serafy Jr.)**

## Make  practical recommendations (!!)

- 	to promote and improve EQA/PT programmes of all countries, but  particularly of countries  with limited resources

## Subgroup Leaders and Recorders

- Chris Hamilton
- Janet Nicholson
- Bill Donohue
- Lloyd Penberthy
- Harry Richardson
- Nick Serafy, Jr.

- Mark White
- David Kelly
- Sharon Granade
- Deborah Regidor
- Colleen Davis-Doanes
- Carol Bigelow

- WORKGROUP 4

- Feb 26, 2002

## Subgroup Discussions

- Limit 4 bullets for each question

## Heuck

- 2:15-5:30
- Subgroup 1:  Ballroom EFG
- Subgroup 2:  Ballroom EFG
- Subgroup 3: Ballroom EFG
- Subgroup 4: Ballroom EFG
- Subgroup 5: Suite 212
- Subgroup 6: Suite 312

##  Working BreakfastDr. Heuck & Subgroup Leaders7:00-8:00 amTuesday, Feb. 26th

- **Working Breakfast:  Dr. Heuck and Subgroup Leaders will have a working Breakfast in Suite 212.