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6th ESACP Congress, Heidelberg, April 7-11, 1999 |
A148
CEQUAL was established in 1993. 174 flow cytometry labs from Czechia,
Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Greece
participated at least once; with 124 participants from 14 countries in
sendaround 11. Participants receive blood samples and monoclonals for
two-colour analysis of CD3-, CD4+T-cells, CD8+T-cells, NK- and B-cells.
They shall also calculate the CD4/CD8 ratio and lymphsum (T+B+NK). They
must analyse the sample in their own routine and can optionally apply a
standardised protocol using the reagents provided. Results must be reported
as percentage of lymphocytes. In optional three-colour assays the count of
above-mentioned cell populations shall be reported. Results are
statistically analysed using Grubbs test to identify outliers. All results
are presented as graphs using confidential labcodes for each participant.
All participants receive graphs with statistical analysis results. Outlying
results are analysed individually. All available list-mode files are
re-analysed. When possible sources of error can be identified, advice is
given to the participant how to avoid them. Overall reviews of main error
sources are communicated to all participants. CEQUAL is to our knowledge
the only international QC-program for immunophenotyping functioning for
such a long time. Although except for Czechia no external QC is required
for accreditation, the flow cytometry community appreciates the program
as the high participation shows (over 65 % of all labs concerned). The
program helps educating the participants in preventing the most common
errors (gating, quadrant-correction, gate contamination, cell-population
calculation etc.) and helps to standardise flow cytometric results in the
territory.
CENTRAL EUROPEAN QUALITY CONTROL PROGRAM FOR IMMUNOPHENOTYPING (CEQUAL)
- A REVIEW OVER SIX YEARS
Vesely R 1, VanLangendonck F 2, Mitro A 3, Strauss K 4,
Barths J 5
1) Pediatric Clinic, Faculty Hospital, Kosice, Slovakia,
2) Becton Dickinson, Heidelberg, Germany,
3) Institute of Radioecology, Kosice, Slovakia,
4) Becton Dickinson France, Belgian Branch, Erembodegem, Belgium,
5) Prosort, Mönchengladbach, Germany