The DOH accredited tertiary laboratory has five (5) sections: Chemistry,

Hematology, Immunology-Serology, Clinical Microscopy and Bacteriology; hence, each

section requires to participate in the annual National External Quality Assessment
Scheme (NEQAS). This is for maintaining quality testing with accuracy and precision
and for the licensing of clinical laboratories.

As per DOH Memorandum 2009-0086B, the following is the schedule of the

annual NEQAS:

NRLs EQAS Parameter/Analyte Frequency Deadline of

Provider Application
National Kidney CBC (Hemoglobin, Once a year February
Transplant Institute Hematocrit, RBC,
(NKTI) WBC & Platelet)

Hematology
Lung Center of the Glucose, Urea Per year cycle May
Philippines (LCP) Nitrogen, Uric Acid,
Creatinine,
Clinical Chemistry Cholesterol, Albumin,
Total Protein,
Sodium, Potassium,
Chloride
San Lazaro Hospital HBV, HCV One test event per June
– STD/AIDS year
Cooperative Central
Laboratory (SLH-
SACCL)
Research Institute Bacteriology, Once a year First batch:
of Tropical Medicine Parasitology, AFB February
(RITM) Microscopy Second batch: May
Third batch: August
Bacteriology,
Parasitology, and
Mycobacteriology

Here are the following procedures for the laboratory’s NEQAS participation:

1. Properly fill out required forms that can be downloaded from the website of each
NEQAS provider.
2. After filling out the required forms, secure the payments according to the
instructions from each NEQAS provider.
3. The NEQAS samples will arrive weeks after registration. Upon receipt of the
samples, check their integrity and condition. Do not accept damaged samples.
 4. If the samples are not going to be tested right away, follow the storage
instructions of each sample from each provider.
5. NEQAS samples are run and tested just like a patient sample. But before doing
so, make sure that machines are properly and well calibrated, and quality control
is done.
6. To ensure accuracy and reproducibility of the results, at least three (3) medical
technologists will run the samples for Chemistry, Hematology and Serology.
7. After testing the samples, the medical technologists will consolidate, compare,
and contrast the results they have obtained to check for accuracy, precision and
internal quality assurance.
8. Each of the samples for Parasitology will also be read by at least three (3)
medical technologists.
9. After series of testing and processing, final results need to be keyed in on each
prescribe website from the NEQAS provider. Final results should be entered on or
before the deadline of submission.
10. A Certificate of Participation will be sent by the NEQAS provider weeks after the
results are keyed in, and to be followed by a separate Certificate of Proficiency if
the laboratory passed or is at par with the national standards.

Here are the following procedures for the Bacteriology section’s NEQAS participation:

1. Properly fill out the required form that can be downloaded from RITM’s website.
2. Secure needed payments.
3. The samples will arrive weeks after registration. Upon receipt of the samples,
check for their integrity and condition. Do not accept samples if their containers
are broken and damaged.
4. If the samples are not tested right away, follow storage instructions.
5. The two (2) trained clinical bacteriologists will only process the Bacteriology
samples. The medical technologist who underwent DSSM training will be the only
one who will read the slides for AFB microscopy.
6. Before processing the samples, make sure that the instruments (biosafety
cabinet and incubator) are properly calibrated. Make sure that quality control is
done on the Crystal ID test kit, and especially on the antibiotics. Quality control
in the Bacteriology section is done using QC organisms like Staphylococcus
aureus ATCC, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
7. The analytes are streaked on plates depending on what kind of sample they are.
8. The organisms are identified through the Crystal ID identification system and
their antibiotic susceptibility is determined through Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion
method.
9. After processing, the clinical bacteriologists will consolidate, compare and
contrast their results to ensure accuracy, precision and internal quality
assurance.
11. Final results need to be keyed in the prescribed website of RITM. Final results
should be entered on or before the deadline of submission.
12. A Certificate of Participation will be sent by the NEQAS provider weeks after the
results are keyed in, and to be followed by a separate Certificate of Proficiency if
the laboratory passed or is at par with the national standards.