Proficiency testing in analytical chemistry, microbiology and laboratory medicine: discussions on current practice and future directions

A summary of the working group discussions on proficiency testing (PT) and external quality assessment (EQA) held at the Eurachem proficiency testing Workshop, Windsor, during September 2023 is provided. The working groups covered a range of issues concerned with current practice and future directions: the revision of ISO/IEC 17043; guidance on different methods for setting the standard deviation for proficiency assessment; collusion or falsification of results in PT/EQA; comparison of synthetic versus real PT items; performance assessment in non-quantitative PT/EQA; and risk analysis approach for PT/EQA participation. The discussions at the working groups were aided by a keynote lecture given on each of the topics given on the same day. Delegates from forty-five countries attended the workshop and this diversity of backgrounds was represented on each of the working groups, capturing a range of views and experience from around the world and from a number of different analytical measurement sectors. Most of the working group participants were PT/EQA providers, participants in PT/EQA schemes and representatives of national accreditation bodies, including technical assessors. In addition, delegates from academia, PT/EQA software developers and test kit manufacturers were also present.

BROOKMAN Brian;  BELAVARI Csilla;  BUTLER Owen;  MURTULA CORBI Raquel;  HORSKY Monika;  JORDAN Heather;  LAURENT Caroline;  PATRIARCA Marina;  TIIKKAINEN Ulla;  VAN PUTTEN Kees;  ROBOUCH Piotr;  SARKANY Erika;  SORBO Angela; 

2024-11-06

SPRINGER

JRC137599

0949-1775 (online),   

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-024-01588-9,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC137599,   

10.1007/s00769-024-01588-9 (online),