The analytes or investigations covered by the Scheme are selected on the basis of their clinical relevance. Schemes are independent of any manufacturing and marketing interests in equipment and reagents in the field in which they operate and any interests in the provision of analytical services must be declared. The staff involved in directing and operating the Scheme are appropriately qualified. The Organiser of the Scheme liaises with a Steering Committee comprising appropriate experts, participants and clinical advisers approved by the Executive Committee. The full, realistically calculated costs of operating the scheme are fully recovered from participants' subscriptions.
Schemes are non-profit making and any operating surplus is reinvested in the schemes.
Management arrangements enable continuity of the EQA service to participants. The Schemes' aims are to facilitate optimal patient care by facilitating the availability of reliable laboratory investigations, through provision of objective information on laboratory performance and professional advice and assistance where appropriate. Schemes should enable the detection of inadequate performance by a participating laboratory. The standard of participants with apparent performance difficulties should be improved by education rather than penalty. Material for investigation must be distributed regularly at an appropriate frequency and in appropriate numbers to be agreed from time to time with the Steering Committee.