Scope
Number of annual rounds: 2 to 4, depending on the external quality assessment programs
Number of samples per round: 2 clinical samples (+ possibly additional control samples)
Parameters:
Clinical chemistry
-
International program “pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy in urine and plasma”:
- 6-oxopiperidine-2-carboxylic acid (6-oxoPIP)
- 2S,6S-/2S,6R-oxopropylpiperidine-2-carboxylic acid (2-OPP)
- Alpha-Aminoadipic Acid
- Pipecolic acid
- Delta-2-piperideine-carboxylate
- Delta-1-Piperideine-6-carboxylate (P6C)
- α-aminoadipic semialdehyde (a-AASA)
- International program “assessment of plasmalogen levels in erythrocytes”
- International program “biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid”:
- L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF)
- 3-Methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG)
- Neopterin
- Biopterin
- International program “Dihydropteridine Reductase (DHPR) activity in Dried Blood Spots”
- International program “pyruvate kinase activity”
- Belgian national program “galactosemia”:
- Galactose-1-phosphate in red blood cells
- Activity of the galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase
Hematology
- International program “red blood cells membrane disorders” :
- Eosin-5’-maleimide (EMA) binding test
- Osmotic gradient ektacytometry
- Separation of red blood cells membrane proteins by SDS-PAGE
Immunology
- International program “Complement Factor D”
EQA Calendar
2025 2024 2023 2022 2021
(the External Quality Assessment calendar is available in Dutch and French)
Participation
The registration to the External Quality Assessments and the reporting of the results are performed online using Sciensano’s “Toolkit” platform (see link and email address below). The participants annually receive a certificate of participation.
Toolkit registration to the External Quality Assessments
Manual for the encoding of the results in the Toolkit
Reports
After each round, the laboratories receive a report. Once a year, a global report is written after the discussion of the annual results and review of the External Quality Assessment procedure with the participants during a debriefing meeting.
Contact
Scientific managers
Nathalie Vandevelde
+32 2 642 55 89
nathalie.vandevelde@sciensano.be
Céline Desmet
+32 2 642 54 50
celine.desmet@sciensano.be
Other contact
Wim Coucke
+32 2 642 55 23
wim.coucke@sciensano.be
Secretary
+32 2 642 55 22
QL_secretariat@sciensano.be
Rue Juliette Wytsman 14 • 1050 Brussels