Centre for Proficiency Testing

IQMH has been providing internationally-recognized proficiency testing programs through its Centre for Proficiency Testing (PT) for over 40 years. It is accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) in accordance with the recognized International Standard ISO/IEC 17043: 2010 Conformity assessment — General requirements for proficiency testing.

Proficiency Testing Provider Cert # 3059.01

IQMH’s PT programs are designed to provide regular, objective and independent assessment of a laboratory’s ability to provide an acceptable standard of service by comparison with peers. Comparison of all results provides insight into performance that is not available to the individual participants. The information provides a tangible basis for quality improvement initiatives. It also demonstrates comparison of different methods and instruments for the same test; thus, providing an assessment of reliability.

Program participants obtain exclusive access to the following:

• Comprehensive PT/EQA reports which include management reports, educational commentaries and more
• Specialty experts/scientific committees
• Consensus practice recommendations and scientific papers
• Web portal for result submission and report access

IQMH’s Centre for Proficiency Testing offers proficiency testing for the following classes of tests:

• Chemistry, including routine chemistry, drug monitoring, drugs of abuse, lipids, enzymes, immunology, endocrinology, fecal occult blood and glucose point-of-care testing
• Hematology, including routine hematology, red cell disorders, coagulation, morphology, bone marrow, flow cytometry and fetal maternal serum
• Cytogenetics
• Cytopathology, including gynecological and non-gynecological sample types
• Microbiology, including molecular microbiology, bacteriology, C. difficile antigen and/or toxin detection, smears for acid-fast bacilli, mycology, parasitology, viral serology and direct viral antigen tests
• Pathology, including histotechnology and immunohistochemistry
• Point-of-care Testing  (chemistry, glucose, drugs of abuse, and HIV antibody)
• Transfusion medicine