FAQs

The closing date determines the timing of each cycle for submission. The closing date for submission is clearly stated on the assessment run delivery letter. This form also advises that submissions cannot be accepted after this date.

In some instances, submissions received after this date may be accepted at the discretion of the Scheme Manager. This is providing the participant states a genuine reason for the late submission of material.

Submissions received after the closing date without explanation, will be returned to the participant. Such submissions will be considered non-submissions for performance monitoring.

We do not encourage late submission of material and the Quality Manager will deal with late submissions on a case-by-case basis, as late submissions are regularly audited, and any frequent abusers are notified.

Whilst UK NEQAS Cellular Pathology Technique strives to mark participants submissions accurately and with a high level of accuracy, if a participant is not satisfied with any scores that they receive they may submit an appeal.

A participant can appeal against their score if:
•They feel that the scoring was overly negative
•Additional information is available which could impact the scores already achieved
•An error was made by UK NEQAS CPT

To submit an appeal, the participant must;
•include a copy of the completed appeals form which can be found in the document library
•include a copy of the report which they wish to appeal the score
•include the original submitted material which they wish to appeal

Return to:
Assessment Appeals
UK NEQAS CPT,
Haylofts
St Thomas Street,
Haymarket,
Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 4LE

Where to send assessment submissions:

UK NEQAS CPT
Haylofts
St Thomas Street,
Haymarket,
Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 4LE

UK NEQAS CPT seeks to keep the subscriptions charged to participants down to a minimum but it should be mentioned that we will always try to improve the service provided. Wherever possible, such improvement will be implemented without any increase in fees.

Participants should be aware, however, that UK NEQAS schemes are required to recover all of their operating costs on a strict non profit making basis. UK NEQAS CPT has no other financial support other than that from participant fees. Thus the level of subscription is under continual review.

Contact cpt@ukneqas.org.uk for details of annual subscription fees.

UK NEQAS CPT will invoice participants for the annual subscription, which is due within 30 days of receipt. Heads of department are asked to ensure prompt payment of subscriptions before July.

Invoices will come from:

LABXCELL/ UK NEQAS CPT Finance Officer
Haylofts
St Thomas Street,
Haymarket,
Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 4LE

finance@labxcell.org

Late payment of annual subscriptions could result in suspension of your laboratory from the Scheme. If you are a UKAS accredited laboratory and you are suspended from the Scheme you are obliged to notify UKAS of this fact.

All complaints regarding any aspect of the service provided by UKNEQAS CPT must be directed to the Quality Manager (see under Technical Queries on Contact Us). The Quality Manager will then make sure that all complaints are passed to the relevant person within the organisation to deal with.

A Complaints Policy outlining the procedure can be found in the Document Library of the Members' Area

Information Governance is the responsibility of both UK NEQAS CPT and the Participant.
Organisational information must only be shared with others who are authorised to see it and need to know it in order to carry out their role.

As such, UK NEQAS CPT must be informed immediately of any amendments to key personnel at a registered centre, so that their login privileges can be removed and new login ID and password details issued.

Key personnel (3 main points of contact within a centre)

Main Contact
This is designated as the Clinical Lead within a department, or the Consultant Pathologist departmental head.

Technical Head
The Technical Lead with managerial responsibility for the registered department. This may also be the Laboratory/Organisation Manager.

Day-to-Day
The individual within a department who has section or day-to-day responsibility for the laboratory / organisation workings.

In addition, a Finance/Supplies contact must be added to ensure prompt issue of invoices and payment of subscription fees.

Additional personnel can also be added to a participant record as “Quality Manager” or “Web Member”, to enable other members of staff to receive UK NEQAS CPT communications.

Participation in UK NEQAS CPT is governed principally by confidentiality and Information Governance guidelines and standards ISO17043 and the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Quality Assurance.

UK NEQAS CPT is a member of the UK NEQAS confederation of EQA schemes.

UK NEQAS Steering Committee for Technology in Cellular Pathology provides advice to all UK NEQAS Schemes offering technical EQA in cellular pathology. Its responsibilities lie in the operational domain and do not extend to performance issues except where this involves the design and operation of the performance monitoring mechanism itself.

The Joint Working Group on Quality Assurance (JWG) oversees the National Quality Assurance Advisory Panels (NQAAP), which in turn are the reference points for organisers on matters of participant performance.

At a meeting on 18th June 2009, the Royal Colleges of Pathologists agreed that the JWG would be incorporated into the College structures, formally as a section of the Professional Standards Units

Proficiency testing involves the interlaboratory comparison of a named investigation. To demonstrate their technical competence and integrity, proficiency testing providers are able to gain accreditation to an internationally recognised consistent set of standards.

The standards that govern these aspects of a proficiency testing provider are known as; "ISO17043 Conformity Assessment – General Requirements for Proficiency Testing"

UK NEQAS CPT is a UKAS accredited proficiency testing provider No. 8268. Our accreditation is limited to those activities described on our UKAS schedule of accreditation found at https://www.ukas.com/

UK NEQAS CPT is governed principally by the guidelines and standards issued by the Human Tissue Act, ISO17043 standards and RCPath on the supply of human tissue.

See Participant's Manual for further information. This can be found in the members' area of our website, under document library.