1 – Programme overview

The NUM EQA programme is designed for the quantitative assessment of CBC analytes with peer-group between-laboratory comparisons and trend monitoring for automated instruments.

Two optional programmes are associated with this programme :

• EQA - NFR : CBC and reticulocytes in fresh blood
• EQA - RETI : Reticulocytes (stabilised blood)

Participating labs can choose to be assessed for all the analytes of this programme, or simply a subset of analytes of interest.

2 – Assessment frequency

Number of surveys per year: 4
Number of control samples per survey: 2
Number of samples per year: 8

3 – List of items assessed 

• Leukocytes
• RBC (impedance and optical)
• Haemoglobin
• Haematocrit
• MCV
• MCH
• MCHC
• RDW
• Platelets (impedance and optical)
• MPV

4 – Description of the control samples

Liquid human (Red cells) and animal (leukocytes and platelets) artificial, stabilised control blood samples (ready-to-use 2 mL samples).