Selection interpretation testing

Selection
Interpretation
Testing (PT
Second Ed
, Use and
of Proficiency
T) Schemes
dition 2011

Acknowledgements
The revision of this document was
undertaken by the EEE-PT Working
Group (EA-Eurolab-Eurachem).
EQALM (European Organisation for
External Quality Assurance
Programmes in Laboratory Medicine)
as an affiliate member was also
involved in this revision.
Selection, Useand
Interpretation of Proficiency
Testing (PT) Schemes
Second Edition 2011
Editors
Ian Mann (SAS, Switzerland)
Brian Brookman (LGC Standards, UK)
Composition of EEE-PT Working Group
Brian Brookman (Chair), LGC Standards, UK
Natalie Stephenson (Secretary), LGC Standards, UK
Frank Baumeister, AQS Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Greg Ewbank, UKAS, UK
Holger Frenz, Institut für Eignungsprüfung(IfEP), Germany*
Maria Grazia del Monte, ACCREDIA, Italy
Magnus Holmgren, SP Technical Research Institute, Sweden
Eva Klokocnikova, CAI, Czech Republic
Christian Lehmann, DAkkS, Germany
Ulrich Leist, DRRR, Germany
Mirja Leivuori, SYKE, Finland
Minna Loikkanen, Labquality, Finland
Ian Mann, SAS, Switzerland*
Piet Meijer, ECAT Foundation, The Netherlands*
Marina Patriarca, IstitutoSuperiore di Sanità (ISS), Italy
Poul Erik Poulsen, DANAK, Denmark
Piotr Robouch, IRMM, European Commission*
Pedro Rosario Ruiz, RPS-QUALITAS, Spain*
Annette Thomas, WEQAS, UK
Johannes van de Kreeke, BAM,Germany
*Members of the drafting group led by Ian Mann
Selection, Use and Interpretation of Proficiency Testing (PT) Schemes
English edition
2nd edition 2011
Copyright © 2011
Copyright inthis document is the property of the organisations represented by the members
of the EEE-PT WG
Enquiries regarding the translation, and production and distribution of new editions of this document
should be directed to the EURACHEM Secretariat
Selection, Use and Interpretation of PT Schemes Page i
CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................. 1
2 SCOPE ............................................................................................................................. 2
3 DEFINITIONS ................................................................................................................... 2
4 INTRODUCTION TO PROFICIENCY TESTING.............................................................. 4
4.1 Role of PT within the management system .......................................................... 4
4.2 Types of PT schemes .............................................................................................. 5
5 SELECTION OF PT SCHEMES ....................................................................................... 6
5.1 Strategy of PT participation.................................................................................... 7
5.2 Availability of PT schemes ..................................................................................... 8
5.3 How to decide if the selected PT scheme is fit for purpose? .............................. 8
6 USE OF PT BY LABORATORIES................................................................................... 9
7 HOW A PT PROVIDER EVALUATES THE LABORATORY’S PERFORMANCE ........ 12
7.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 12
7.2 Basic elements for the evaluation of PT results ................................................. 12
7.2.1 Assigned value.................................................................................................... 13
7.2.2 Standard deviation for proficiency assessment ................................................... 13
7.2.3 Performance evaluation ....................................................................................... 14
7.2.4 Effect of the uncertainty of the assigned value .................................................... 15
7.2.5...