Sergi Consolato, Mikuz Gregor
Institute of Pathology, Medical University Innsbruck, Austria.
BMC Clin Pathol. 2008 Nov 12;8:11. doi: 10.1186/1472-6890-8-11.
External quality assurance (EQA) is an extremely valuable resource for clinical pathologists to maintain high standards, improve diagnostic skills, and possibly revalidate medical license. The aim of this study was to participate in and compare four international slide survey programs (UK, IAP-Germany, USA-Canada, Australasia) in pediatric histopathology for clinical pathologists with the aim to use it as a revalidation method.
The following parameters were evaluated: number of circulations per year, number of slides, membership requirement, proof of significant pediatric pathology work, open to overseas participants, laboratory accreditation, issue of continuing professional development certificates and credits, slides discussion meeting, use of digital images, substandard performance letter, and anonymity of responses.
The UK scheme, which has sampling procedure over several time frames (2 circulations/year, 30 slides), partial confidentiality, and multiple sources of data and assessors, can be used as a model for revalidation. The US-Canadian and Australasian schemes only partially fulfill the revalidation requirements. The IAP scheme appears to be essentially an educational program and may be unsuitable for revalidation.
The purposes and programs of EQA schemes vary worldwide. In order for it to be used for revalidation, it is advisable that EQA schemes are immediately unified.
外部质量保证（EQA）对于临床病理学家来说是一种极其宝贵的资源，有助于维持高标准、提高诊断技能，并可能用于重新验证医生执照。本研究的目的是参与并比较四个儿科组织病理学国际玻片调查项目（英国、德国国际病理学会、美国 - 加拿大、澳大拉西亚），供临床病理学家使用，旨在将其用作一种重新验证方法。
评估了以下参数：每年的分发次数、玻片数量、会员要求、重要儿科病理工作的证明、对海外参与者开放情况、实验室认证、继续职业发展证书和学分的发放、玻片讨论会、数字图像的使用、不合格表现信函以及回复的匿名性。
英国的项目有在多个时间框架内的抽样程序（每年2次分发，30张玻片）、部分保密性以及多个数据和评估者来源，可作为重新验证的模式。美国 - 加拿大和澳大拉西亚的项目仅部分满足重新验证要求。德国国际病理学会的项目似乎本质上是一个教育项目，可能不适合用于重新验证。
全球范围内EQA项目的目的和计划各不相同。为了将其用于重新验证，建议立即统一EQA项目。
