What is the Quality Control Reagents Scheme?

The Quality Control Reagents Scheme is provided by the Health Protection Agency based at the Quality Control Reagents Unit HPA NIBSC .

The QCRU is a leading producer of defibrinated plasma based control material for the HPA, the National Health Service laboratories that are under Trust, the National Blood Service (NBS) and commercial and overseas customers.

The Scheme offers both quality control material and advice on analysis of results via our website. The website provides each laboratory with the tools to analyse their own performance. In the future, data entered will be downloaded to us and analysed on a central database, enabling a higher degree of confidence in all aspects of the Quality Control Scheme.

An effective internal quality control scheme for diagnostic testing should include the use of an independently produced internal quality control (IQC) at least once per assay run. This will demonstrate reproducibility within and between runs of each kit, and between batches of a kit. The use of IQC sera is required by laboratory accreditation schemes.

Last reviewed: 16 December 2010