External Quality Assessment

Question 1

This is used to describe a method that allows for comparison of a laboratory’s testing.

Answer 1

External Quality Management

Question 2

This is the tern that is interchangeably used for EQAs.

Answer 2

Proficiency Testing

Question 3

True or False: EQA is a system for subjective checking at a laboratory’s performance using external agencies or facilities.

Answer 3

False, it is objective.

Question 4

This type of laboratory is practices EQA to identify problems to be corrected, help evaluate reliability, and monitor training impacts.

Answer 4

Individual Laboratories

Question 5

This type of laboratory uses EQA to ensure results from different laboratories are comparable, accreditation, and network communication.

Answer 5

Public Health Testing Laboratories

Question 6

These are the five (5) characteristics of EQA.

Answer 6

1. Free or Fee
2. Obligatory or Voluntary
3. Organized at Different Levels
4. Confidential
5. May Address a Single Disease

Question 7

These are programs that include manufacturers as sponsors to ensure equipment functionality and regional or national programs for quality improvement.

Answer 7

Free EQA Programs

Question 8

This characteristic of EQA requires an accrediting body or by law.

Answer 8

Obligatory or Voluntary

Question 9

This characteristic of EQA states that it can be held at regional, national, or international levels.

Answer 9

Organized at Different Levels

Question 10

This characteristic of EQA states that laboratory results are only known by the participating laboratory and the EQA provider.

Answer 10

Confidential

Question 11

An example for this characteristic of EQA is an EQA program catered for tuberculosis.

Answer 11

Addresses a Single Disease

Question 12

This reflects the effectiveness of the laboratory’s quality management.

Answer 12

Successful Performance

Question 13

These are three (3) methods of EQA.

Answer 13

1. Proficiency Testing
2. Rechecking or Retesting
3. On-site Evaluation

Question 14

This method has an external provider (reference laboratory) that sends unknown samples.

Answer 14

Proficiency Testing

Question 15

This method makes use of slides that have been read by reference laboratories and allows for inter-laboratory comparisons.

Answer 15

Rechecking or Retesting

Question 16

This method is done when it is difficult to conduct traditional proficiency testing.

Answer 16

On-site Evaluation

Question 17

This is the most common type of EQA, been used for many years, and gauges the skills of medical technology.

Answer 17

Proficiency Testing

Question 18

This is the document that described Proficiency Testing Schemes as “to assess the performance of analytical laboratories and personnel competence.”

Answer 18

ISO/IEC GUIDE 43-1:1997

Question 19

This organization states that programs where multiple samples are sent to different laboratories for analysis and identification.

Answer 19

CLSI

Question 20

These are examples of PT providers.

Answer 20

1. Central Reference Laboratory
2. Government Health Agencies
3. Kit or Instrument Manufacturers

Question 21

True or False: PT programs are done 6 times every year as its optimal frequency.

Answer 21

False, 3 to 4 times.

Question 22

This has been used traditionally for EQA microscopic slides for AFB or HIV rapid testing.

Answer 22

Rechecking or Retesting

Question 23

This EQA is used in conjunction with PT or Rechecking/testing and is used for AFB and HIV rapid testing.

Answer 23

On-site Evaluation

Question 24

This is the meaning behind AFB and HIV.

Answer 24

Acid-fast Bacilli and Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Question 25

This process is characterized by being performed on dried blood spots or serums, done by reference laboratories, and not performed as a blind process.

Answer 25

Retesting Process

Question 26

This process is commonly used for acid-past smears and allows for the original report to be evaluated and assessment of slide preparation and staining.

Answer 26

Rechecking Process

Question 27

This is a recommendation for all laboratories and require by the ISO 15189.

Answer 27

EQA Participation

Question 28

This is a process that handles and analyzes EQA samples, treat EQA as patients, and leads to corrective actions.

Answer 28

Management Process