FMH Scheme back up and running

We are pleased to announce that we have been able to obtain sufficient material to run the 2005F (dispatched 15/09/20), and we have been able to fulfil our plan to send three samples on this occasion. You should be able to submit all results via our normal website, please let us know if you have any issues by contacting us by email [email protected].

We hope to repeat this with the next few exercises to catch up with the missed exercises in May and July.
We hope to have the report out in the usual timescale but due to the additional data to process and the need for additional validation, we may be slightly late releasing the report. Please bear with us if this is the case, we want to make sure that reports we send are correct.

UK NEQAS Webinar Series: Reducing Pre-analytical errors

UK NEQAS is pleased to announce a forthcoming series of 8 webinars on Reducing Pre-analytical Errors in Laboratory Medicine, commencing on October 8th 2020. The full programme is available and further information on booking can be found on the UK NEQAS Central Office website here. The webinars are free and you may register as many members of your team as you wish.

UK NEQAS Haematology Covid-19 update

An updated communication has been added under the UK NEQAS Haematology Covid-19 response banner with details of the distribution schedules for July – September 2020. The extension to closing dates implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic have been discontinued from August; however, if participants continue to experience delays to testing, please let us know. We do not wish to penalise any participants for circumstances beyond their control.

ISBT Summer highlights

The ISBT Summer Highlights programme includes presentations from ISBT 2019 meetings and an update on COVID-19 immunology, all presented live on-line.

This 3-days online programme is free for ISBT members, if you are not a member yet you can attend the sessions, the registration fee for non-members is €100 for the 3 days. You can become an ISBT Member today and attend the programme for free.
For more information, visit the website here.

Carol Briggs-Smalley Scholarship 2020

Applications are invited for the Carol Briggs-Smalley Scholarship 2020. Further information is available here.

Applications close on 31 July 2020.

Postponement of the UK NEQAS Haematology 23rd Annual Participants’ meeting

As a result of the on-going Covid-19 pandemic, we regret that the UK NEQAS Haematology 23rd Annual Participants’ meeting scheduled for 6 October 2020 has been postponed for one year.

Pre-paid places will automatically be transferred to the October 2021 meeting.

We are working on the feasibility of providing an alternative programme of free educational webinar sessions during the winter, available as a benefit of membership to all participants.

We look forward to welcoming you to Liverpool in October 2021.

Postponement of Joint UK NEQAS BTLP / BBTS Blood Bank Technology SIG Annual Meeting

As a result of the on-going Covid-19 pandemic we have made the decision to postpone this year’s Joint UK NEQAS BTLP/ BBTS Blood Bank Technology SIG Annual meeting, which was due to be held in November 2020 at the NEC Birmingham.

The new date for the meeting is November 23rd 2021 at the Gallery Suite, NEC Birmingham.

Pre-paid places for the 2020 event will automatically be transferred to the 2021 event.

International Society for Laboratory Haematology Virtual Meeting

The International Society for Laboratory Haematology 2020 meeting has gone virtual. Registration is FREE and the meeting will run online and on demand from June 22 until September 25 2020. You can access the full announcement here to take advantage of this amazing opportunity or go to the ISLH website.

Extension to 20E7 and 20ANT3 closing dates

As a result of the current and ongoing COVID-19 situation, we will be extending the closing date for 20E7 and 20ANT3 to Monday 3rd August. This means that you will be able to continue testing and submitting results until the end of that day. We have altered our in-house testing to ensure that the material is checked for stability up until this new closing date.

Extension to 20E6 closing date

As a result of the current and ongoing COVID-19 situation, we will be extending the closing date for 20E6 to Monday 29th June. This means that you will be able to continue testing and submitting results until the end of that day. We have altered our in-house testing to ensure that the material is checked for stability up until this new closing date.

2004F cancelled

As a direct result of the current COVID-19 situation we have taken the decision not to send the next FMH exercise 2004F. We have had to take this decision as we are unable to obtain any suitable raw material for the preparation of FMH samples.

When things return to a state of normality, we hope to be able to provide additional samples in the future exercises so that we can continue to provide you with the appropriate level of performance monitoring over the course of the year.

UK NEQAS Haematology Abnormal Haemoglobins 2003LN specimens

UK NEQAS is unable to supply LN specimens as part of the June Abnormal Haemoglobins distribution 2003AH, due to the temporary closure of the NHS Cord Bank during the Covid-19 pandemic. These specimens are supplied for participants undertaking the screening of newborn infants for significant haemoglobinopathies using liquid capillary blood samples. Participants will not be penalised for non-return of results for these specimens. If you have any queries, please contact us here.​

UK NEQAS Covid-19 testing EQA

UK NEQAS offers a range of EQA to support Covid-19 diagnostic and monitoring testing. Click here for more information.

Parasitology Teaching Day

Changes to the delivery of the Parasitology Teaching Program as a result of COVID-19 have been agreed and details can be found here. For access to UK NEQAS Parasitology website please click here. If you have any questions, please email us here.

Extension to 20E4 closing date

As a result of the current and ongoing COVID-19 situation, we will be extending the closing date for 20E4 to Monday 4th May. This means that you will be able to continue testing and submitting results until the end of that day. We have altered our in-house testing to ensure that the material is checked for stability up until this new closing date.

2003F cancelled

As a direct result of the current COVID-19 situation we have taken the decision not to send the next FMH exercise 2003F. We have had to take this decision as we are unable to obtain any suitable raw material for the preparation of FMH samples. When things return to a state of normality, we hope to be able to provide additional samples in the future exercises so that we can continue to provide you with the appropriate level of performance monitoring over the course of the year.

Handling UK NEQAS Haematology and Transfusion specimens during the COVID-19 pandemic

UK NEQAS Haematology and Transfusion specimens are a low risk for Covid-19 infection, compared to clinical samples. We have undertaken a risk assessment and advice on handling our specimens and packages during the pandemic can be found here.

Extension to 2002AH closing dates

As a result of the Covid-19 emergency and public holidays in the UK, we have extended the closing date for 2002AH to 5 pm on Monday 20th April. In-house testing witll be extended to the same dates to validate sample quality and stability.

Extension to 2004FB and 2002DL closing dates

As a result of the Covid-19 emergency and public holidays in the UK, we have extended the closing dates for 2004FB and 2002DL to 5 pm on Thursday 16th April. In-house testing witll be extended to the same dates to validate sample quality and stability.

Postal delays to Haematology 20D distribution

We are aware that the postal deliveries may be delayed due to the current Covid-19 emergency. Participants are asked to check the update letter on amendments to our services, which includes guidance on submitting results late or what to do if you are unable to make a return. We realise the challenges faced by all our healthcare colleagues at the moment and intend that no participant is penalised for circumstances beyond their control.

Amended Haematology Distribution Schedules

We have reviewed our planned services with our advisors and agreed to focus on the high throughput, automated tests and those tests that support the UK national screening programmes during the Covid-19 emergency. Other services have been compressed or deferred to later in the year, with a small number of cancellations in April and May.

FMH exercise 2002F supply of material

Unfortunately, as a result of a supply issue at the last minute, we have been unable to source sufficient material to provide two samples for exercise 2002F. We will be providing only one sample of material for this exercise, contradicting the exercise instructions which were prepared ahead of time. This sample is labelled Patient 1.

We gave consideration to cancelling and moving the exercise to a different date, however with the rapidly changing situation around COVID-19, it seemed very unlikely that there would be any short-term improvement in access to material.

The data entry pages for the exercise will still have details for both Patients 1 and 2. We have marked all Patient 2 samples as “Unsatisfactory sample quality – Sample not received” so that you can submit results without entering data for Patient 2.

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused by this change.