EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT
trust, confidence and credibility in laboratory testing and diagnostic services. Patients, clinicians and healthcare stakeholders rely on accurate and reliable pathology results. By demonstrating proficiency and consistency through EQA, laboratories instil confidence in their capabilities and contribute to patient safety and quality of care.
n Fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing
Unlike traditional microscopy, digital pathology relies on digital images displayed on computer monitors; variations in image acquisition, processing and display can significantly impact the interpretation of resulting images.
eliminating variability and enhancing reproducibility of results across different laboratories.
n Identifying performance variability Digital pathology workflows are multi- step processes including the standard pre-analytical histology processing, slide scanning, image analysis and interpretation. Performance variability can occur at each stage due to differences in technical expertise, equipment, software, and settings. The UK NEQAS CPT Digital Pathology EQA scheme will allow participants to identify areas of weakness or inconsistency and implement corrective actions to improve accuracy and reliability. The benefit of being part of this scheme will also mean that participants will have access to the methods used by the highest scoring participants, such as scanning profiles used. There are over 1,500 international participants all with different methodologies and best practice, so being a UK NEQAS CPT participant for this scheme will keep laboratories ahead of the curve by having access to cellular pathology scientists all working together to develop, innovate and transform expertise and quality across continents.
n Benchmarking and continuous improvement
The UK NEQAS CPT Digital Pathology EQA scheme will provide a benchmark for performance comparison and benchmarking against national and international standards. It is
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encouraged that laboratories use their EQA results to track their performance over time, monitor trends, and benchmark against peer groups. Continuous participation in EQA schemes encourages laboratories to strive for excellence, adopt best practices and continually improve their processes and outcomes.
n Supporting regulatory compliance Regulatory bodies such as the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) require participation in EQA schemes as a part of quality assurance and accreditation processes. EQA data can be used as a crucial tool for benchmarking, education, quality improvement, technique validation, supporting audits, and accreditation assessments. ISO 15189:2022 and associated internal standards and guidance for best practice have a more refined focus on patient risk management, therefore ensuring that digital pathology is covered by an EQA scheme that promotes and assures patient safety.
n Building trust and confidence EQA participation enhances public
EQA schemes facilitate collaboration, knowledge sharing and peer learning amongst laboratories. Participation in EQA encourages networking, exchange of experiences and sharing of best practices across institutions. Collaborative EQA events such as the UK NEQAS CPT Annual Participants Meeting and its extensive educational events promote professional development, standardisation of methodologies and advancement of the field of cellular pathology.
Implementation challenges As with any groundbreaking technology, its implementation comes with its own set of challenges, particularly concerning the establishment of an EQA scheme. Traditional UK NEQAS CPT EQA schemes have long been established for cellular pathology methods, but implementing a scheme for digital pathology presents unique obstacles. In February 2024 UK NEQAS CPT conducted its first digital pathology pre-pilot.
The concept of the UK NEQAS CPT Digital Pathology EQA scheme is that participants are required to submit one digital image and the corresponding H&E-stained slide for each asset being utilised within the laboratory for the purposes of digital pathology diagnostics. An asset being a single digital slide scanner. This means if a participant has three scanners, they register each of those as part of the scheme, and for each EQA assessment they submit three digital images online and their three corresponding H&E slides. Participants are required to complete an online data entry form as part of their submission which details information that may be relevant to the peer assessment. This
There are over 1,500 international participants all with different methodologies and best practice, so being a UK NEQAS CPT participant for this scheme will keep laboratories ahead of the curve
JUNE 2024
WWW.PATHOLOGYINPRACTICE.COM
AdobeSTock / arcyto
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