EurA1c Project
2019-2020: 25 EQA organisers of 20 countries agreed to participate in the fourth “EurAAA1c” project. The name and logo of the project had been changed to EurAAA1c to acknowledge the participation of EQA organisers in Asia, America and Africa. The project is now called EurA1c. 16 EQA organisers used fresh whole blood samples and 13 organisers used lyophilised hemolysate samples (4 organisations used both fresh and lyophilised samples). In October 2019 the fresh whole blood samples were sent to the participants. From November 2019 up to April 2020 the lyophilised samples are assayed by the participants.
EurA1c 2020 Report
EurAAA1c 2019 Report
2016-2018: IEQAS has been collaborating with this project annually since it was established in 2016, involving EQA providers in over 17 predominantly European countries. Two samples were distributed simultaneously via multiple EQA organisers to establish a European-wide picture of HbA1c performance. The project is part of the IFCC Committee for Education in the Use of Biomarkers in Diabetes (C-EUBD).The success of this EurA1c project highlights the importance of EQA in driving analytical quality improvement and follows on from the successful 2011 implementation of International Standardisation of HbA1c in Ireland. The 2017 report was updated 16/10/2018 to correct 2017-1 Overall Mean, Bias and CV%; Table 6, p9.
EurA1c 2018 Report
EurA1c 2017 Report
EurA1c 2016 Report : "Ireland best performance testing" 1 The 2016 EurA1c data shows that Irish (IEQAS) participants demonstrated the best performance (bias, CV) of the 10 countries collaborating in the fresh blood element of the survey. 1 see also interview with Dr Cas Weykamp, IFCC News, No 6/7, Jul/Aug 2018.
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2012: HbA1c for patients with variant haemoglobin: The aim of this survey was to gather information on the reporting of HbA1c by laboratories when a variant haemoglobin has been detected. The findings formed the basis of a minimum report comment for reporting HbA1c results in the case of variant haemoglobins.
2010–2011: International Standardisation of HbA1c project : As requested by the HSE Project Team, IEQAS distributed 7 additional samples to verify the IFCC-calibration of HbA1c, prior to its implementation on 1st July 2010. Dual reporting (DCCT and IFCC) continued until 16/01/2012. The project involved manufacturers and suppliers of HbA1c analysers and POCT meters, diabetes nurses, consultants, endocrinologists, GPs, healthcare professionals and patients. Every analyser and POCT meter in the country was traced (many required replacement or an upgrade); all eventually verified. Reports were presented at IEQAS Conferences 2010 and 2009.
2006: Effect of variant haemoglobins on the measurement of HbA1c: This survey assessed the accuracy of HbA1c measurement in diabetic patients harbouring relatively common haemoglobinopathies. Results were reported IEQAS Conference 2006; also published IJMS Vol 175 No 4 Supplement 2: 35, 2006.