Global EQA/PT scheme provider

Helping global molecular genetics and pathology labs prove quality, maintain accreditation, and improve care.

5900+

External Quality Assessment registrations per year

97+

Countries covered by our global assessment network

300+

Expert peer assessors evaluating end-to-end performance

Trusted by and working with

Accreditation bodies, laboratories, societies and pharmaceutical industry partners

Why choose EMQN?

Whole-Process Assessment, from Sample to Report

EMQN’s External Quality Assessment (EQA) schemes evaluate the complete molecular diagnostics workflow, providing a true assessment of laboratory performance. From sample preparation and testing to result interpretation and clinical reporting, our programmes help laboratories strengthen quality assurance, improve diagnostic accuracy, and demonstrate ongoing competence.

ISO/IEC 17043 Accredited Quality Assurance

EMQN delivers ISO/IEC 17043 accredited proficiency testing and EQA schemes, providing laboratories with confidence in the quality, impartiality, and technical rigour of their assessments. Participation supports laboratories working towards or maintaining ISO 15189 accreditation and demonstrates commitment to internationally recognised quality standards.

A Global Quality Network

As one of the world’s leading providers of molecular diagnostics EQA, EMQN connects a global community of laboratories, hospitals, research institutions, and testing providers. Through international benchmarking and peer comparison, participants gain valuable insights into performance while contributing to the advancement of quality standards across genomic and genetic testing.

Driving Best Practice in Genetic and Genomic Testing

EMQN works with internationally recognised experts in molecular genetics, genomics, and laboratory medicine to deliver high-quality EQA programmes and educational resources. Our expert feedback, technical guidance, webinars, and best-practice recommendations help laboratories stay current with emerging technologies, regulatory requirements, and industry standards.

How our EQA caught a missed variant at UZ Leuven

UZ Leuven runs more than 125,000 genetic tests a year. When its Centre for Human Genetics put its full NGS and bioinformatics workflow through EMQN’s germline variant schemes, the EQA surfaced issues its own validation had not, including a variant that could never be called because of a coverage gap. Every finding drove a concrete change to the lab’s protocol.

If all of the laboratories participating in EQA perform this exercise to improve their pipeline, the standards will rise because the next version of EQA will be even better.

Dr Erika Souche Bioinformatics Scientist

How we work

From choosing a scheme to your benchmark report

01

Choose your scheme

Browse the catalogue and pick the EQA schemes that match the tests your lab runs.

02

Register your laboratory

Enrol online during the registration window. New laboratories are welcome.

03

Receive your samples

We send blinded samples for you to test exactly as you would a real referral.

04

Analyse and submit

Run your normal process, then submit your results and interpretive report.

05

Assessment and benchmark

Expert peer assessors review your performance and return an individual report.

Upcoming event

World Health Expo

25 January 2028 Dubai

About this event

Browse EMQN resources

Publications

White papers and conference posters drawn from our EQA schemes.

View Publications

Webinars

On-demand education, practical walkthroughs and variant classification masterclasses, curated by the…

View Webinars

Hear from our customers / collaborators

EMQN represents a global standard and benchmark for high-quality molecular diagnostics, powered by leading experts throughout Europe and the world. With their support, we are able to ensure end-to-end process quality control that promotes trust and excellence in our mission to provide data-driven, life-changing answers to patients globally.

Prof. Peter Bauer

Chief Medical and Genomic Officer

CENTOGENE

EMQN exemplifies professionalism and expertise in all their services. They are not just a provider, but a valuable partner in improving the quality of genetic testing in the laboratory.

Dr Artur Kowalik, Department of Molecular Diagnostics

Holy Cross Cancer Center, Kielce, Poland

Department of Molecular Diagnostics

SydPath has been working synergistically with EMQN for many years now. We highly value the support in ensuring our diagnostic genomic laboratory test results are accurate, reliable, and comparable. This allows us to honour our commitment of assuring our results are actionable and clinically meaningful to the clinicians and patients we serve and assists them in delivering optimised personalised therapeutic approaches.

Associate Professor Min Ru Qiu, Anatomical Pathology, Cytopathology & Histopathology

SydPath, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney

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