Establishing a network of specialist Porphyria centres - effects on diagnostic activities and services

Table 3 Number of porphyria centres fulfilling the minimum analytical and clinical criteria set by EPNET to be classified as specialist porphyria centres, reporting participation in external quality assurance schemes (EQAS) and having accredited and/or certified laboratory facilities

	2006	2007	2008	2009
	(n = 30)	(n = 32)	(n = 32)	(n = 33)
Fulfilling minimum criteria	24^a	27^a	32^a	31^a
Participation in EQAS for metabolites and/or enzymes^b	14	20	26	28
Accredited and/or certified laboratory^c	14	17	20	22

^aTwo centres were considered specialist porphyria centres in conjunction with another centre.
^bPart of the minimum criteria from 2009 onwards. Reported EQA schemes:
Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Programs (RCPA-QAP), European Porphyria Network External Quality Assessment Scheme (EPNET EQAS), Welsh External Quality Assurance Scheme (WEQAS), Society for Promotion of Quality Assurance in Medical Laboratories (INSTAND e.V.), Quality Control Centre Switzerland (CSCQ), Dutch Foundation for Quality Assessment in Clinical Laboratories (SKLM).
^cReported standards: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 17025, ISO15189, CPA (UK), CAP/CLIA, ISO 9000, ISO 17089.

ISSN: 1750-1172