Colorectal cancer [Tissue]

Five mock clinical cases with matching human tumour tissue paraffin embedded (FFPE) and/or artificial FFPE (designed to simulate real patient samples). One 10um or 15um FFPE section per case is provided.

Samples are provided as cut sections (rolled scrolls / curls) only – we cannot provide slide mounted materials. Variant allele frequencies of any artificial FFPE reference materials have been validated using ddPCR.  

There is an option to purchase additional sets of samples at the time of scheme purchase. For example, for laboratories requiring more sample material to complete testing of the EQA e.g., users of Biocartis Idylla^TM.

There is a maximum of 3 x additional sets of samples per participant. 

Participants will receive an individual report including educational advice and a scheme report which includes additional information from the cohort of participants including geographical spread, methodologies employed, common errors, learning points and scheme statistics allowing participants to benchmark their results.

Each laboratory will also receive a single certificate listing all EQAs participated in with performance result for each year.

The minimum requirement is KRAS, NRAS and BRAF gene testing. If you provide a clinical service for the PIK3CA gene, this should be included. These samples are not suitable for an RNA-based methodology only.

Participants are expected to test samples according to their routine strategy. For case 1, participants are expected to return a clinical report. The remaining four cases require genotyping only. For all cases, mandatory completion of an online data collection form is required. 

No restrictions on number of participants. Open to laboratories from ALL countries (note: some restrictions may apply due to sanctions, delivery network exceptions, restrictions on importation etc).