1 – Scheme overview

The NUM EQA scheme is designed for the quantitative assessment of CBC analytes with peer-group between-laboratory comparisons and trend monitoring for automated instruments.

Two optional schemes are associated with this scheme :

• EQA - NFR : CBC and reticulocytes in fresh blood
• EQA - RETI : Reticulocytes (stabilized blood)

Participating labs can choose to be assessed for all the analytes of this scheme, or simply a subset of analytes of interest.

2 – Assessment frequency

Number of investigations per year: 4
Number of control samples per investigation: 2
Number of samples per year: 8

3 – List of items assessed 

• Leukocytes
• Red cells (Impedance, Optical)
• Hemoglobin
• Hematocrit
• MCV
• MCH
• MCHC
• RDW
• Platelets (Impedance, Optical)
• VPM

4 – Description of the control samples

Liquid human (Red cells) and animal (leukocytes and platelets) artificial, stabilized control blood samples (ready-to-use 2 mL samples).