EHEQAS

1.1       Introduction

EHEQAS was set up to assess and improve the quality of HPV DNA testing laboratories.

1.2       Participants

Any European laboratory performing HPV tests may participate (low or high-throughput, low or high-resolution typing, in-house or commercial test). A newcomer to the scheme participates once free-of-charge and then if they wish to continue their participation in the scheme they prepay the cost of participating for next (the rest of the) year.

1.3       Current Yearly charges (for 2017-2019)

1.3.1.   Labs who test >200 diagnostic samples per year (A1) and who have to test 14 EHEQAS samples per year (2 batches of 7 samples): €130 per year for 2017 and 2018, €140 for 2019 or can pay €250 for a 2-year period 2018-2019.

1.3.2    Labs who test 100-200 diagnostic samples per year (A2) and who have to test 10 EHEQAS samples per year (2 batches of 5 samples): €110 per year for 2017 and 2018, €120 for 2019 or can pay €210 for a 2-year period 2018-2019.

1.3.3    €60 for labs who test <100 diagnostic samples per year (A4) and who have to test 5 EHEQAS samples per year: €60 per year for 2017 and 2018, €70 for 2019 or can pay €110 for a 2-year period 2018-2019.

1.3.4   Additional charge of €20 (A1-A2) or €10 (A4) per year for a lab that uses 2 different methods and is provided with larger aliquots of samples to use.

1.3.5   €20 (A1-A2) or €10 (A4) per year additional charge for labs outside Europe.

1.4       Methods

Batches of 5-7 samples are sent from the coordinator (Dr Neophytou) to participants 1-2 times per year. Participants test samples and have to report results to the coordinator within 3 weeks. Results are tabulated and consensus results are prepared. Consensus results take into account a known true value of a sample (if it was prepared from international standards or if it was pretested by reference laboratories). Marks are awarded to participants and certificates (of participation or competence) are issued. Competence certificates are based on the average marks received in ≥5 rounds of tests. 

1.5       ISO 17043

EHEQAS has started the process of being accredited according to ISO/IEC 17043:2010. This will be very useful for participating laboratories who have an ISO themselves (15189 or otherwise).

1.6 Additonal Information and Results

For additional information please see the document below (EHEQAS Scheme version 50).

For more detailed results please see the attached presentation and abstract, which was presented as an oral presentation at Eurogin Congress in Florence, Italy, November 2013.