how proficiency testing is organised
Step 1 - dispatch
- Test materials are dispatched to participating laboratories from York, England on the start date given in the programme.
- Materials are sent by normal post unless marked F or
on the programme, these materials are sent by courier
- With your test material you will receive a letter containing any specific instructions about storage or handling of the test material and the closing date by which your results should be returned.
- A letter stating the closing date for the test will be sent to you with the test material. However, you can expect FAPAS and GeMMA tests to finish 6 to 8 weeks after the dispatch date. FEPAS tests usually finish three weeks, and LEAP two to three weeks, after the dispatch date.
- Although some instructions may be included with the analysis to allow results to be compared we do not specify a method which must be used. Laboratories are encouraged to use their own methods and procedures to reflect the handling of real samples as closely as possible.
Step 2 - analysis
- Participants analyse test materials and report results and methods via the website.
Step 3 - statistics
- We carry out statistical analysis of results and award your laboratory a z-score which provides an assessment of your performance.
- Full details of the statistical procedures used to calculate z-scores are detailed in our protocol.
Step 4 - report
- After the closing date a confidential report is made available to participants.
- This report identifies the performance of your laboratory and the anonymous performances of other laboratories in the test for comparison.
- The report also contains details of the test material preparation, the testing carried out to ensure the test material is homogenous and methods used by participant laboratories.
Click here to download an example report (PDF format)
After a report has been dispatched, we often make surplus test materials available for sale and participants can request help in their analysis or request participation in a remedial scheme if appropriate.
