• Sample Details Unstained paraffin sections of animal tissue.
  • Method Immunohistochemistry Staining

Overview

The purpose of this scheme is for participants to demonstrate their proficiency in performing immunohistochemistry staining techniques.

Result input

Results are returned through our electronic reporting system.

Participants stain the slides provided and return to VETQAS.

Results deadline (from date of shipping)

21 days

PT Report

Authorised report will be published electronically. These will show intended result and results from all participants

Stained slides are then assessed, and results are returned through our electronic reporting system. These include: a summary of results for each technique, participants’ scores, overall mean score and a histogram of overall scores, digital images of selected examples accompanied by comments provided by the Assessors.

Accreditation Status

ISO/IEC 17043 Conformity assessment – General requirements for proficiency testing.

Health and Safety

This material is for in vitro use only, not for use in animals.

Import Permit

It is the responsibility of the participants to check with their customs authority if an import permit is required to import VETQAS® PT samples. If a permit is required, we must receive a valid copy of the permit before the scheduled distribution date. Please note, if we do not receive the permit by the scheduled distribution date the samples will not be shipped and there will be no refund.

Provision of external services

Aspects of the Proficiency Testing schemes may at times be performed by a competent external service provider, for which VETQAS® is responsible.

Additional Information

Scheme outline for IHC

In each round participants will be requested to perform two specialised immunohistochemistry methods. Participants will normally be issued with two unstained paraffin sections per method. One of these slides per method should be returned by the participants for assessment along with a self-provided in-house control slide for each requested immunohistochemistry method.

Each batch of slides issued is quality control checked to ensure that all slides issued are homogeneous within the batch. The period covering the distribution has been included when the expiry dates of samples were determined.

Labelling

It is important to not remove or obscure the original identification system on the self-provided in-house control slide labels. After receipt the participant’s lab identity system will be made anonymous by covering over with removable adhesive labels.

Information requests

Details of methods and/or reagents used should be recorded on the result entry sheets. This enables the provision of useful feedback from assessors to participants. This information is not assessed and will not appear on the final report.

Assessment

The assessment of submissions is designed to be as fair and consistent as possible. The assessment process is subcontracted to personnel who are qualified and well-practised assessors in techniques of Veterinary Immunohistochemistry. During assessment, scores will be allocated to various criteria based on the quality of results in certain immunohistochemistry techniques and final scores will be awarded once the assessments are completed.

Participants with restricted repertoires

The participant is responsible for communicating via the reporting form whether an immunohistochemical technique is part of their repertoire.

When a technique is not part of a participant’s repertoire, this will be classified as such and will not be assessed or scored.

Participants who fail to submit a slide tested for an immunohistochemical technique that is part of their declared repertoire will be classed as a non-submission.

Each distribution will request two immunohistochemistry techniques from any of those listed below:

• Smooth Muscle Actin (Alpha)

• Calcitonin

• Chromogranin

• c-Kit

• Coronavirus

• Desmin

• E-cadherin

• Endothelial marker (of choice)

• GFAP

• Macrophage Marker • Mast Cell Marker

• Melanoma marker (of choice)

• Pan B Cell marker (of choice)

• Pan Cytokeratin

• Pan T Cell marker (CD3)

• Plasma cell marker (of choice)

• Proliferation marker

• S100

• Synaptophysin

• Vimentin

Where it is the participant’s laboratory policy to refer immunohistochemical techniques or slides to another department or laboratory, these should be included in the declared repertoire and the PT material referred to the relevant third party as if it were diagnostic material.

The department’s original submission material will be returned.

Performance monitoring

Good performance in one category cannot be offset against substandard performance in another.

The scheme organisers will not monitor substandard performance. This should be arranged by the participants themselves and any subsequent investigations dealt with accordingly. However, participants are welcome to contact the scheme organiser or assessor for advice on such matters.

Poor performance is considered to be defined by receiving a score of 2 or lower.

Appeals procedure

Participants who are dissatisfied with any of their scores received can re-submit the slides to be re-assessed. These slides will be reassessed at the next scheduled round of assessment after receipt.

The participant should initially contact the scheme organiser and then return the slides for reassessment.

Any returned slides will be added to the list of the next round of assessment. After reassessment the slides will be returned to the participant.

The appeals procedure will remain confidential.