Consecutive-failure logic (2 of 2 or 2 of 3), 30-day review window from results-received, mandatory PT integrity attestation at submission — all enforced automatically.
EQA module
EQA & proficiency testing software for accredited clinical labs
Manage every external quality assessment program in one place — providers, programs, analytes, rounds, and corrective actions. CalibDue auto-computes z-scores, enforces accreditation-specific rules (CAP's consecutive-failure logic, CLIA's 30-day review window, PT integrity attestation), and blocks round closure until corrective actions are linked and verified.
EQA dashboard — KPIs, upcoming deadlines, recent z-scored results, and open corrective actions in one view.
What is EQA / proficiency testing software?
External Quality Assessment (EQA) — also called proficiency testing (PT) — is the regular submission of unknown samples by a third-party provider so labs can demonstrate their results agree with peer labs. CAP, CLIA, ISO 15189, and UKAS all mandate EQA participation, with strict rules about how to handle unacceptable results, how long you have to review evaluation reports, and what corrective actions must be documented.
Most labs run their EQA on spreadsheets and shared drives, and the rules are interpreted ad-hoc per round. CalibDue codifies the rules into the platform: switch your lab's accreditation standard and the right consecutive-failure logic, review-window deadline, and PT integrity attestation requirements switch with you. Z-scores compute automatically. Corrective actions are required where the standard demands them. Round closure is blocked until evidence is in place.
What CalibDue's EQA module does
- Provider, program, analyte, and round hierarchy (RCPA, CAP, UK NEQAS, RIQAS, custom)
- Per-analyte evaluation methods: z-score, fixed criteria, peer SDI, qualitative match
- Auto-computed z-scores with peer-group statistics (n, mean, SD, method group)
- Auto-suggested acceptability flag with one-click manual override and reason capture
- Accreditation-aware consecutive-failure detection (CAP 2/3, CLIA 2/3, configurable)
- Corrective actions required for unacceptable results; blocked round closure until linked
- Effectiveness verification: tie CA closure to a subsequent acceptable result
- 30-day review window auto-tracked from results-received; overdue-review reminders
- PT integrity attestation enforced at submission (CAP/CLIA: blocking; ISO/UKAS: optional)
- Per-analyte z-score trend charts with acceptable / warning bands and KPIs
- Independent-reviewer enforcement on round close
- Consolidated EQA reminder emails so technicians don't get spammed per program
Built for your accreditation standard
The EQA module enforces the right rules per standard automatically. Switch standards per lab; the rules switch with you.
Two out of three consecutive unsuccessful events flagged; PT integrity attestation blocking; corrective action documentation tied to the failing event; review-window reminders.
EQA participation per analyte with documented acceptable and warning thresholds. Corrective actions on unacceptable results, with evidence retained for the round's lifetime.
ISO 15189-aligned PT participation with configurable review windows and floor enforcement so labs cannot accidentally loosen standard requirements.
Works with every other module
CalibDue is one platform — every module feeds the same dashboard readiness score. Explore the rest:
FAQ
Common questions about eqa
How does CalibDue calculate z-scores for EQA results?
When you enter the lab's value for an analyte and the provider returns the peer-group statistics (n, mean, standard deviation), CalibDue computes z = (lab_value − peer_mean) / peer_sd. The result is compared against the analyte's acceptable and warning thresholds (e.g. |z| ≤ 2 acceptable, 2 < |z| ≤ 3 warning, |z| > 3 unacceptable), and an acceptability flag is auto-suggested. You can override the flag with a reason captured for audit.
What is 'PT integrity' attestation and why does CalibDue enforce it?
PT integrity attestation is a statement that the proficiency testing samples were handled and tested in the same way as patient samples — no preferential treatment, no inter-lab communication. CAP and CLIA require this attestation at the time of submission; failing to enforce it is a common citation. CalibDue blocks round submission until the user attests, and records who attested and when.
What happens when an EQA result is unacceptable?
The result is flagged as unacceptable and a corrective action (CA) is required. The round cannot close until every unacceptable result has a CA linked. The CA tracks status (open → in_progress → closed → verified), captures root cause and the action taken, and supports 'effectiveness verification' — you link the CA closure to a subsequent acceptable result on the same analyte, demonstrating the fix worked. Consecutive-failure logic per accreditation standard (e.g. CAP's 2 of 2 or 2 of 3) triggers an automatic flag for further review.
Can CalibDue handle multiple EQA providers in one lab?
Yes. The data model is provider → program → analyte → round, so a single lab can run RCPA programs alongside CAP, UK NEQAS, RIQAS, and any custom provider. Each provider can have multiple programs (Chemistry, Haematology, Immunology, etc.), each with its own analytes and rounds. Provider results import in bulk with database transactions and row locking to prevent race conditions.
How does the accreditation-aware rule engine actually work?
Each accreditation standard (CAP, CLIA, ISO 15189, UKAS) has a configuration entry that defines its consecutive-failure rule, review-window length, PT integrity requirement, and other policy parameters. When you set your lab's accreditation_type, CalibDue's services consult that config — so labs accredited to CAP get CAP rules, CLIA labs get CLIA rules, and so on. Labs can override individual settings, but UKAS/CAP minimum windows are enforced as floors so you can't accidentally loosen the requirement.
Your next audit starts today.
Calibration, training, EQA, maintenance, and documents — one platform, one readiness score. Join the waitlist and get early access when we launch.
ISO 15189 · CAP · CLIA · UKAS — Built for accredited labs.