| Scheme Particulars | Indicative Details |
|---|---|
| Accreditation body | UKAS |
| ISO/IEC Accreditation status | ISO/IEC 17043:2010 |
| UKAS Accredited Proficiency Testing Provider No | 8560 |
| Objective of Scheme | Provides EQA for laboratory based cardiac marker assays. Combined samples are issued for troponin, CKMB, myoglobin and NT-proBNP. An additional sample for troponin analysis only is issued for high sensitivity methods to cover very low clinically important levels around the assay detection limit. |
| Pre-, Analytical, Post- status | Analytical |
| Number of distributions per year (nominal) | 12 |
| Specimens per distribution | 4 (3 specimens for all analytes, +1 extra specimen to cover Troponin at low levels) |
| Number of Specimens per annum | 48 |
| Frequency of distribution | Monthly |
| Scoring system | ABC |
| Material distributed | Lyophilised human serum |
| Programme Director(s) / Organiser(s) | Dr Naomi Elkin |
| Criteria for participation | All |
| Nominal sample volume | 500 µL |
| Sample presentation TACs | All analytes in the same tube |
| Analyte | Approx Range | Default Units | Target Value | B Score Limit (%) | C Score Limit (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiac Troponin I | ~ | ~ | MLTM | 15 | 15 |
| Cardiac Troponin I (low levels) | 3 – 20 | ng/L | MLTM | 15 | 25 |
| Cardiac Troponin T | ~ | ~ | ALTM | 15 | 15 |
| Cardiac Troponin T (low levels) | 3 – 20 | ng/L | ALTM | 15 | 25 |
| CKMB (Mass) | ~ | ~ | ALTM | 20 | 25 |
| CKMB (Activity) | ~ | ~ | ALTM | 25 | 35 |
| Myoglobin | ~ | ~ | ALTM | 20 | 25 |
| NT-proBNP | ~ | ~ | GLTM | 15 | 20 |
| Abbreviation | Expansion |
|---|---|
| ALTM | All Laboratory Trimmed Mean |
| GLTM | Group Laboratory Trimmed Mean – which is the Method Principle Mean |
| MLTM | Method Laboratory Trimmed Mean – usually a manufacturer system / analyser mean |
| XALTM | An external value that may be from a Reference Method System |
| OGLTM | A Method Principle Mean used as the target for all laboratories |
| OMLTM | A specific Method Mean used as a target for all laboratories |
| MED | Median |