About EQA schemes

EQA independently verifies the quality of laboratory testing. You may also hear it referred to as proficiency testing (PT). The terms are interchangeable, and EMQN is a UKAS-accredited proficiency testing provider.

At its core, EQA answers a simple but critical question: what if the results are wrong?

Through EQA, laboratories test mock patient samples and receive an independent assessment of their performance. This external review confirms whether results are accurate, reliable and comparable with those produced by laboratories around the world.

EQA supports molecular genetics and molecular pathology laboratories of all sizes, whether they are participating for the first time or renewing their participation each year.

Whether you are a hospital laboratory, academic or a private testing provider, EQA offers benefits that extend beyond meeting regulatory requirements.

Participation helps you:

• Meet accreditation requirements
• Reduce risk and improve quality
• Demonstrate competence with independent evidence
• Benchmark performance against peers
• Improve consistency and standardisation
• Support continuous improvement
• Increase confidence in your results

We assess your entire testing pathway (including reporting and clinical interpretation), not just the final number. Each stage is reviewed as a clinician would experience it.

1. Sample

   Your laboratory receives and handles a mock patient sample.

2. Analysis

   You run the test exactly as you would for a real patient.

3. Interpretation

   You interpret the result against a mock clinical referral.

4. Report

   You produce the report a clinician would actually receive.

Working with our network of 300+ expert assessors, we evaluate your laboratory’s ability to analyse samples, interpret results against mock clinical referrals, and produce clear, accurate reports. Our assessors challenge and support laboratories worldwide, so that patients and clinicians can rely on the answer.

Every EQA is reviewed by at least two expert peer assessors. They evaluate your interpretation against mock clinical referral information, and the clarity and accuracy of your final report.

Scheme scope varies by genomic specialty and test type. Some focus on technical performance and sequence data quality, enabling benchmarking over time or against peers, while others assess analytical and clinical interpretation against best practice, overseen by independent experts.

Whichever scheme you choose, you will receive tailored educational feedback and full support to implement any required improvements.

We also offer a range of schemes in partnership with organisations including Novartis, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Lilly, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, MSD and Incyte.

We are excited to launch our updated 2027 EQA catalogue, shaped by your insights to better support laboratories worldwide

Explore our catalogue

Laboratories can purchase EQA schemes between September and February. You will need an EMQN account to register and to access your results afterwards. If you have missed the deadline please contact the team.

EMQN CIC is committed to improving global standards in laboratory testing, and offers an Evolving Economies Discount to help eligible laboratories access our schemes and strengthen their quality systems.

If your application is approved, the discounted fee is automatically applied at checkout. Please note that some schemes are excluded from this discount.

Apply here

EMQN’s aim is to ensure that laboratories are delivering the highest possible quality of service. We work according to professional consensus and improve quality through education and peer group review rather than censure or penalty.

It is still necessary to measure performance against set criteria and national or international standards, in order to identify participants performing poorly. Across all schemes, poor performance is recorded for:

• Non-submission of results, unless there is acceptable prior notification to EMQN
• Critical genotyping error, whether false positive or false negative
• Critical interpretation error or incorrect advice which adversely affects patient clinical management

Full criteria are published separately for molecular pathology schemes and for disease-specific and technical schemes.

Individual laboratory report (ILR)

After assessment you can download a provisional ILR from your EMQN account. It gives feedback against the set criteria and includes educational advice. Provisional reports are clearly marked as such, and may be updated based on the findings of any appeal before the final ILR is published.

Summary scheme report

Alongside your ILR, we provide a summary scheme report with information from the whole cohort of participating laboratories. It covers geographical spread, methods used, common errors and learning points, as well as educational advice, commentary on new developments for the scheme, and statistics you can use to benchmark your results.

Certificate

Each year your laboratory receives a single certificate listing every EMQN scheme you took part in, with your performance result for each.

If you are not satisfied with the assessment of a scheme you have participated in, you can submit an appeal by logging into your EMQN account. Appellants are usually given three weeks from the publication of the provisional ILRs.

Your results are re-evaluated by the assessment team, and if the appeal is upheld some or all marks are returned, reflected in your final ILR. Appeals are investigated and resolved without any discriminatory action against the appellant. Watch the support video.