EQA Programme for IDEXX VetLab Analysers

Although monthly internal quality control is very important in determining the day-to- day performance of a biochemistry analyser, External Quality Assurance schemes have the advantage of comparing individual laboratories with others using the same method. This is essentially an assessment of accuracy and precision, with the mean value of the participating laboratories being used as the ‘true’ value of the analyte, and is a requirement for the RCVS Practice Standard Requirements  Scheme - the Core Standards of which are relevant to all veterinary practices, and state: 

7.5 There must be suitable arrangements for quality control (QC) and assurance 
of automated practice laboratory tests (BP). In addition to internal QC procedures, quality assurance by reference of internal samples to external laboratories or internal analysis of external samples must be routinely undertaken and results documented. The inspector will expect to see results of the external quality assurance. The frequency of external quality assurance testing should be related to the number of tests undertaken. It is expected that this will be at least quarterly.

Many other schemes available for the veterinary profession rely on the external comparison of In House Analyser results against Reference Laboratory analyser results for the same sample – a practice that is not only inaccurate but is also not classed as External Quality Assurance by definition.

The IDEXX EQA Scheme however is a true measure of External Quality Assurance, and as an EQA member you will be:

• Sent blind samples which you can analyse on your IDEX X Catalyst Dx® and VetTest®.
• Return your results to IDEX X and we will perform a statistical evaluation comparing your results to those of other participating practices to ensure your IDEXX chemistry analysers are performing correctly.
• Contacted and any issues will be identified and resolved on an individual basis.