External Quality Assessment Scheme for Clinical Chemistry

The Lung Center of the Philippines was the designated National Reference Laboratory for Clinical Chemistry where the external quality assessment scheme is being conducted.

For initial application, you must inform them of your intention to participate in the scheme. You can contact them with this number (02)924-6101 loc. 388 or send an email at lcp_nrl_cc@yahoo.com.ph.

Registration form and order of payment will be sent via email. Accomplish documents completely and return back to LCP_NRL the soonest. Original copy of all required documents must be submitted.

A minimal amount of P3,500.00 as participation fee will be charged to defray cost of reagent, administrative, and other operating expenses. Payment may be paid in cash or in check payable to Lung Center of the Philippines.

As soon as payment is received EQAS samples will be prepared and delivered on schedule.

A Certificate of Participation (COP) will only be released to the participating clinical laboratory upon submission of EQAS result to LCP-NRL. This COP is required in the application for renewal of license to operate (LTO) for the succeeding year.

NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SCHEME (NEQAS) FOR BACTERIOLOGY, PARASITOLOGY & MYCOBACTERIOLOGY

Below is the 2011 schedule for the National External Quality Assessment Scheme (NEQAS) for Bacteriology, Parasitology, and Mycobacteriology.

Enrollment (EN) is all year round.  Sending of analytes for the proficiency testing (PT)  will be four (4) times in a year except for TB Culture Program (TBC) which will be sent twice a year only.

Batch cut-off (BCO) will be every 30th of scheduled month or 100 labs, whichever comes first.  Labs with incomplete documents before BCOs will not be included in the proceeding PT,  however, these labs will instead be included in the next scheduled PT.

January	EN
	Batch cutoff: 30th of Jan. or 100 labs, whichever comes first
February	EN
	PT
	TBC
March	EN
April	EN
	Batch cutoff: 30th of Jan. or 100 labs, whichever comes first
May	EN
	PT
June	EN
July	EN
	Batch cutoff: 30th of Jan. or 100 labs, whichever comes first
August	EN
	PT
	TBC
September	EN
October	EN
	Batch cutoff: 30th of Jan. or 100 labs, whichever comes first
November	EN
	PT
December	EN

Enrollment Procedure:

1. Fill-up the Enrollment Form correctly and sign
2. Refer to the box below for the amount to be paid or contact the NEQAS office for clarification
3. Send Enrollment Form and Payment to the NEQAS Office for payment evaluation and processing (enrollment will not be accepted without the enrollment form and payment as well as PAYMENTS WITH INCORRECT AMOUNT)
4. The Official Receipt and a notice on when you will expect to receive your Proficiency Test Panels will be sent through registered mail (for enrollments made through courier only) 

NEQAS Office:

NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SCHEME
Department of Microbiology
Research Institute for Tropical Medicine
FILINVEST, Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Programs	Amount
Bacteriology, Parasitology, TB	P 7,500.00
Bacteriology with/without Parasitology or TB	P 7,500.00
Parasitology and TB	P 4,200.00
Parasitology or TB	P 4,200.00

Note: Please download the updated enrollment form and see the new payment scheme here >>ritm.gov.ph>>




NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SCHEME (NEQAS) FOR BACTERIOLOGY, PARASITOLOGY & MYCOBACTERIOLOGY ENROLLMENT FORM

Disclaimer: This is for information purpose only.  For complete details and clarifications please contact the RITM NEQAS office with telefax number:  (02) 850-1949 or visit www.ritm.gov.ph 

Activities and Guidelines in the Performance of External Quality Assessment Program (EQAP) of the National Reference Laboratory for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B & C and STIs

Under Administrative Order 2007-0027 section 6.B.f.ii, all clinical laboratories shall participate in an external quality assessment program administered by the designated National Reference Laboratories.

In this connection, all laboratories performing HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B & C, and Syphilis serologic testing are hereby directed to strictly adhere to the schedule of activities and guidelines set by the National Reference Laboratory for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B & C, and other STIs for 2011 EQAP.

Refusal of the laboratory to participate in an EQAP conducted by the designated NRL will be a violation and will result to non-issuance of license to operate a clinical laboratory.

The schedule of activities in the conduct of NRL-SACCL 2011 EQAP is as follows:

January to June 30

• Submission of registration form and payment

August 01

• Distribution of panels for testing to participating laboratories

September 01

• Submission of final results of laboratory participants to NRL-SACCL / DigitalPT

October 15 to November 15 

•  Analysis of results

December 30

• Dissemination of final report and results to participating laboratories

In order to observe the timeliness of the above activities, the said schedule will be strictly adhered to.  Since there is 6-month ample time to register and subsequent activities are dependent on the number of registrants, late registrations submitted beyond the said deadline will not be accepted.

NRL-SACCL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (EQAP) PROCEDURE


NRL-SACCL NEQAS REGISTRATION FORM

IMPLEMENTATION OF EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM AS A REGULATORY REQUIREMENT FOR LICENSING OF CLINICAL LABORATORIES

Pursuant to Administrative Order No. 2007-0027 entitled "Revised Rules and Regulations Governing the Licensure and Regulation of Clinical Laboratories in the Philippines, " a clinical laboratory is required to have a Quality Assurance Program (QAP).

The QAP shall include an Internal and External Quality Control Program. The Internal QAP covers inputs, processes and outputs as well as practice of continuous Quality Improvement Program covering all aspects of laboratory performance.

On the other hand for External Quality Assessment Program (EQAP) a clinical laboratory is required to participate in the National External Quality Assessment Scheme (NEQAS) administered by the designated
National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) or in other local or international EQAP recognized by the Department of Health.

The NEQAS shall be conducted to ensure that laboratory procedures are done in accordance with standards and laboratory results are accurate and within the standard range for quality health care.

As provided in Department Order No. 393-E s. 2000, five institutions were designated as the National Reference laboratories namely:

• Research Institute for Tropical Medicine - National Reference Laboratory for Dengue, Influenza, Tuberculosis and other Mycobacteria, Malaria and other parasites, Bacterial enteric diseases, Measles and other Viral exanthems, Mycology, Enteroviruses, Antimicrobial resistance and Emerging Diseases; NRL for confirmatory testing of blood units.

• San Lazaro Hospital - National Reference Laboratory for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Syphilis and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STls).

• East Avenue Medical Center- National Reference Laboratory for Environmental and Occupational Health; Toxicology and Micronutrient Assay

• National Kidney and Transplant Institute - National Reference Laboratory for Hematology including Immunohematology, Immunopathology and Anatomic Pathology (consistent with previously issued D.O. 301-1 s. 1999)
• Lung Center of the Philippines- National Reference Laboratory for Biochemistry.

The following specific guidelines shall be enforced to initially implement the NEQAS:

1. A certificate of participation/registration in NEQAS shall be a licensing
requirement for the renewal of license to operate a clinical laboratory for 2009
in the following areas:

      a. Hematology - Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Clinical Laboratories in the
National Capital Region (NCR).

      b. Clinical Chemistry - Tertiary Clinical Laboratories in the National Capital
Region (NCR) and Center for Health Development IV-A CALABARZON.

      c .. HIV/AIDS , Hepatitis B & C Proficiency Testing - All HIV Accredited Testing
Laboratories and Secondary and Tertiary Clinical Laboratories performing
Hepatitis Band C tests.

      d. Drug and Water Proficiency Testing - All Water and Drug Testing
Laboratories.

2. A Certificate of Participation shall be issued by the NRLs to the participating clinical laboratory every time NEQAS is conducted. For the initial implementation of NEQAS, only one (1) certificate is required for the renewal of license to operate.

3. NEQAS/Proficiency Testing for Drug and Water Testing Laboratories requires participation and a satisfactory rating on the survey. For Microbiology, TB and Parasitology, participation in the three component is required and a certificate of participation is issued by the Microbiology Department of RITM. A certificate of participation in Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program (ARSP) is recognized as NEQAS for Microbiology component only, and participation in the TB and Parasitology component is still required.

4. The schedule of fees per participation is as follows:
      a. Hematology P 2,000.00
      b. Clinical Chemistry P 2,000.00
      c. HIV/AIDS, Hepa B & C P 2,500.00
      d. Drug Proficiency Testing P 1,000.00
      e. Water Proficiency Testing P 2,500.00
      f. Microbiology P 5,000.00


Republic of the Philippines Department of Health, DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM No. 2009 - 0086"

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Activities and Guidelines in the Performance of External Quality Assessment Program (EQAP) of the National Reference Laboratory for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B & C and STIs

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Malaria Microscopy Quality Assurance

An overview of the Malaria Microscopy Quality Assurance in the Philippines based from the Department of Heath - Malaria Control Program Manual of Procedures.

Presentation prepared by Jocelyn Rosete Pascua

An Overview of the Malaria Microscopy Quality Assurance in the Philippines -