1 – Scheme overview

This External Quality Assessment program allows the control of the accuracy of the most frequent hemostasis and thrombosis exams .

Statistical reports are sent with supporting comments from the expert clinical biologists who coordinate the scheme.

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

2 – Assessment frequency

Number of investigations per year: 10
Number of control samples per investigation: 2
Number of samples per year : 20

4 levels are tested for the most common analytes. Among the 21 analytes included in this scheme, you can choose to have from 16 to 18 analytes assessed during each investigation. Each analyte is assessed at least 4 times during the year for the least commonly used, and up to 10 times for the most commonly used.

3 – List of analytes assessed 

• Prothrombin time (in seconds [Quick time], percent and INR)
• Activated partial thromboplastin time (expressed in seconds and ratio)
• Cephalin Kaolin time (expressed in seconds and ratio)
• Fibrinogen
• PT coagulation factors (II, V, VII, X and VII+X)
• aPTT coagulation factors (VIII, IX, XI and XII)
• Factor XIII
• Antithrombin
• Protein C
• Protein S
• Free protein S
• Thrombin Time
• Reptilase Time

4 – Description of the control samples

Lyophilized human control plasma (citrate) (samples to be resuspended in 1 mL of distilled water).

The sample volume provided for this EQA is 1 mL. Labs wishing to assess all their tests are therefore advised to order an additional kit.