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Monitoring standards for molecular genetic testing in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Ireland

Monitoring standards for molecular genetic testing in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Ireland
Monitoring standards for molecular genetic testing in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Ireland
Molecular genetic techniques have entered many areas of clinical practice. Public expectations from this technology are understandably high. To maintain confidence in this technology, laboratories must implement the highest standards of quality assurance (QA). External quality assessment (EQA) is recognized as an essential component of QA. The United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service (UKNEQAS) for Molecular Genetics, first set up in 1991, is currently the longest provider of EQA to molecular genetic testing laboratories in the UK, The Netherlands, and Ireland. Errors in the scheme are sporadic events. However, evidence from this and other EQA schemes suggests that a residual error rate persists, which should be taken into account in clinical practice. This EQA scheme has evolved from the respective scientific bodies of the constituent countries and retains a strong emphasis on collective peer review. It is essential that the steps taken to ensure quality in this rapidly expanding field are clear and transparent to participants and public alike. We describe the procedures developed and the governance imposed to monitor and improve analytical and reporting standards in participant laboratories and we compare our experiences with those of equivalent EQA services in the United States
genetic techniques, research support, humans, female, health care, genotype, laboratories, ireland, research, united states, pedigree, genetic screening, genetics, male, netherlands, quality assurance, review, cytogenetic analysis, great britain, methods, standards
1090-6576
147-156
Ramsden, Simon C.
ac06d368-c2c1-4eb0-8dcf-68341f98eaff
Deans, Zandra
cdb6a433-8296-40d7-9b0b-a8961ac866d8
Robinson, David O.
9db1b26b-6c2b-4ac5-879e-20f8a2dc30ec
Mountford, Roger
9f045cae-4fb9-4773-939f-814f068ebb38
Sistermans, Erik A.
7a8e1c75-3968-4f0b-9dad-9f2505ba5eea
Grody, Wayne W.
d6cd8591-c98a-458a-abb2-f5d296d5e1c1
McQuaid, Shirley
65ee8cc6-313d-4f73-868c-ca0df5bfc45c
Patton, Simon J.
f18d1788-5c83-4f2b-b544-d98a11fdc7ed
Stenhouse, Susan A.R.
9fd5bf38-8a9f-44f4-9e71-2d60ff30de5d
Ramsden, Simon C.
ac06d368-c2c1-4eb0-8dcf-68341f98eaff
Deans, Zandra
cdb6a433-8296-40d7-9b0b-a8961ac866d8
Robinson, David O.
9db1b26b-6c2b-4ac5-879e-20f8a2dc30ec
Mountford, Roger
9f045cae-4fb9-4773-939f-814f068ebb38
Sistermans, Erik A.
7a8e1c75-3968-4f0b-9dad-9f2505ba5eea
Grody, Wayne W.
d6cd8591-c98a-458a-abb2-f5d296d5e1c1
McQuaid, Shirley
65ee8cc6-313d-4f73-868c-ca0df5bfc45c
Patton, Simon J.
f18d1788-5c83-4f2b-b544-d98a11fdc7ed
Stenhouse, Susan A.R.
9fd5bf38-8a9f-44f4-9e71-2d60ff30de5d

Ramsden, Simon C., Deans, Zandra, Robinson, David O., Mountford, Roger, Sistermans, Erik A., Grody, Wayne W., McQuaid, Shirley, Patton, Simon J. and Stenhouse, Susan A.R. (2006) Monitoring standards for molecular genetic testing in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Ireland. Genetic Testing, 10 (3), 147-156. (doi:10.1089/gte.2006.10.147).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Molecular genetic techniques have entered many areas of clinical practice. Public expectations from this technology are understandably high. To maintain confidence in this technology, laboratories must implement the highest standards of quality assurance (QA). External quality assessment (EQA) is recognized as an essential component of QA. The United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service (UKNEQAS) for Molecular Genetics, first set up in 1991, is currently the longest provider of EQA to molecular genetic testing laboratories in the UK, The Netherlands, and Ireland. Errors in the scheme are sporadic events. However, evidence from this and other EQA schemes suggests that a residual error rate persists, which should be taken into account in clinical practice. This EQA scheme has evolved from the respective scientific bodies of the constituent countries and retains a strong emphasis on collective peer review. It is essential that the steps taken to ensure quality in this rapidly expanding field are clear and transparent to participants and public alike. We describe the procedures developed and the governance imposed to monitor and improve analytical and reporting standards in participant laboratories and we compare our experiences with those of equivalent EQA services in the United States

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More information

Published date: 1 September 2006
Keywords: genetic techniques, research support, humans, female, health care, genotype, laboratories, ireland, research, united states, pedigree, genetic screening, genetics, male, netherlands, quality assurance, review, cytogenetic analysis, great britain, methods, standards

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 60142
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/60142
ISSN: 1090-6576
PURE UUID: 18db3a86-b2f1-443f-a0cc-5060750b6667

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Date deposited: 08 Sep 2008
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 11:19

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Contributors

Author: Simon C. Ramsden
Author: Zandra Deans
Author: David O. Robinson
Author: Roger Mountford
Author: Erik A. Sistermans
Author: Wayne W. Grody
Author: Shirley McQuaid
Author: Simon J. Patton
Author: Susan A.R. Stenhouse

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