EHEQAS
European HPV
DNA Test
External Quality Assurance Scheme
Web-Page: www.mendelcenter.org/eheqas.htm
Coordinator:
Dr P. Neophytou,
Mendel
Center for Biomedical Sciences
5
Kimonos, 2406 Egkomi
Cyprus
Tel:
+357 22 664105
Vice-Coordinator: Dr J. Konya
Dept.
of Medical Microbiology
University
of Debrecen
Nagyerdei krt 98, 4032 Debrecen
Hungary
Tel:
+36 52 417565
European HPV DNA Test External
Quality Assurance Scheme (EHEQAS)
Participants
Laboratories, which perform HPV DNA tests (at least 15 samples per month and at least 200 samples per year).
Samples
A batch of about 10 samples is sent from the coordinator to the participants 3 times per year (January, May, September).
During 2006 all samples were in the form of DNA (extracted from patients’ samples). During 2007 the batches distributed include at least some commonly used original sample materials (cervical swabs, cervical lavage, urine, biopsy, samples from other anatomical sites: vulva, penis, oropharyngeal).
Aims
1. To facilitate the streamlining and standardization of HPV assays.
2. To assess the ability of participating laboratories to perform HPV typing (low and high-resolution).
3. To provide a platform for future developments in HPV assays (e.g. viral load).
Timetable
Each participant undertakes to test the samples like diagnostic samples submitted to his laboratory and report results to the coordinator within 3 weeks from receiving the samples. About a month later the coordinator and vice-coordinator send out consensus results and marks to all participants.
Marking System
Each sample tested will carry 10 marks: 5 for being tested for HPV DNA (possible results: negative, positive, insufficient sample) and 5 for the typing.
Certificates
Certificates of participation are issued to participants one year after commencement of their participation in the scheme and certificates of competence one year later.