EQA pilot regional program for haematology in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

A pilot regional EQA scheme in haematology has been implemented in Emilia-Romagna. The distinctive features of this scheme are: a) inter-laboratory comparability of results on a local basis has been selected as main target of the whole scheme; b) fresh blood has been chosen as ideal control material; c) a fast and effective dispatching system of control material has been accomplished. This has been made possible by means of the hospital ambulances network and an express delivery service; d) the assessment of the analyzers calibration alignment in the whole region has been subdivided in two phases. The first one consists in aligning all analyzers of each province with the corresponding reference provincial center, the second one in aligning the analyzers of the eight reference centers in the region with each other; e) all laboratories taking part in the EQA scheme have been directly involved. Preparation of control material and comment sheet mailing to participants are carried out by eight provincial reference centers. Initial setting of the scheme targets, collegial survey of results and alteration of the scheme guidelines involve all participants in the scheme; f) a distinction between a short-term and a medium-term goal has been made. The short-term one is to improve the harmonization of results for comparability between different laboratories in the same area. The medium-term one is to set up educational programmes and consensus procedures for establishing operative protocols and for defining the allowable analytical errors, set on the basis of clinical requirements.