Of the 19 exercises that have been circulated, common reasons for failure or for losing points in the assessment include: 1  A failure to include sufficient unique identifiable patient data. The aim of any EQA scheme is to highlight problems and deficiencies

in laboratory procedures. In the UK, laboratories undertaking genetic studies in patients with inherited bleeding find protocol disorders are required to participate in an EQA scheme and it is a requirement for membership of the UKHCDO Haemophilia Laboratory Network and for accreditation through CPA (Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd.). Since its inception, the NEQAS QA Scheme for Haemophilia Genetics has seen a significant improvement SB203580 cell line in the quality of laboratory reports. Reports are confined to a single page; participants now regularly include essential information, adhere to international recommendations on gene and mutation nomenclature and include relevant reference sequences and literature references. Reports are more ‘stand alone’ so that genetic information and its interpretation may follow the patient more readily. The scheme has therefore improved consistency of reporting

standards across participating laboratories. The value of this scheme is highlighted by the last exercise (Exercise 19) in which four laboratories, several of which were new participants to the scheme, failed to correctly identify the presence of a F8 intron 22 mutation in a heterozygous female. Their participation

in the EQA scheme and the subsequent feedback will help incorporate corrective measures in their genetic testing protocols. The frequency of genetic testing is increasing and the accuracy of these Rolziracetam tests is of paramount importance to the diagnosis and treatment of patients and the counselling of affected families. Haemophilia A is a hereditary genetic bleeding disorder occurring in about 1 in 5000 male births, with intron 22 inversion mutation of the F8 gene accounting for 50% of cases of severe haemophilia A. Genetic analysis of the intron 22 inversion is challenging, involving technically demanding methods such as Southern blotting and long-range PCR [43,44]. External quality assurance schemes have shown that errors in genotyping for this mutation do occur [37]. Most laboratories use as their in-assay control DNA samples extracted from patients known to carry the intron 22 inversion mutation. However, these are not well characterized and are usually only available in limited amounts. Few certified and commercial genetic reference materials for haemophilia and other bleeding disorders are available.