Hong Kong Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences Quality Assurance Programme Ltd.

Quality Assurance Programme in Anatomical Pathology

Histological Staining Module

Survey Materials:	Two / three paraffin sections which had been fixed in 10% buffered formalin or other fixative
Test Requested:	Perform Hematoxylin & Eosin and special staining, and return the STAINED SECTIONS & CONTROL SLIDE for assessment.

Frequency : Four times a year

Deadline for Return of Result: 16 days after the dispatch of survey materials

Return of Survey Result Form and Survey Slides

· Survey Result Form and Survey Slidesshall be returned on the day specified on the survey form (usually 16 calendar days after the dispatch of survey materials).

· Arrangement has been made with DHL to collect the survey form and materials from participants back to HKIMLSQAP. Participant has to place order to DHL according to the Guide provided.

· To maintain the integrity of the slides during transportation foam-padded envelope will be provided.

· HKIMLSQAP reserve the right not to evaluate the tests if broken slides are received.

Request for Replacement Samples

Participants can request a replacement of survey materials by submitting a formal request. The request form can be downloaded at:

http://www.hkimlsqap.org/Information/Form/Specimen Replacement Form.pdf

Criteria for Performance Evaluation of Histological Staining

· Survey shall be labelled with the corresponding test code, laboratory confidential code and staining performed.

· Control slides shall be labelled with the laboratory confidential code and staining performed.

· Unlabelled and improperly labelled slides will not be evaluated by the panel and no mark will be given to those slides.

· Answered questionnaire sheets and stained slides have to be returned for assessment before the due date.

· "Late Return" will be stated in the survey report and will not be marked.

· Returned slides will be examined and the staining quality will be evaluated by the Anatomical Pathology Panel with reference to the staining intensity, revelation of nuclear/cytoplasmic details, contrast, consistency, tidiness and labeling.

Details for evaluating H&E staining

Details for evaluating special staining

· Nuclear staining: 0 to 3

· Cytoplasmic staining: 0 to 3

· Staining contrast: 0 to 2

· Staining consistency: 0 to 1

· Slide appearance: 0 to 1

Total mark gained varying from 0 to 10

· Target substance staining: 0 to 5

· Counterstain: 0 to 2

· Staining contrast: 0 to 2

· Staining consistency: 0 to 0.5

· Slide appearance: 0 to 0.5

Total mark gained varying from 0 to 10

Survey Reports

· Final report will be issued and dispatched on the next round of survey exercise.

· Survey data will be compiled and displayed in bar chart for comparison.

· The performance of the participant in H&E staining and special staining will be graded individually as excellent, good, satisfactory or fail according to the following grading system.

Ten is the highest score and five is the passing score.

Excellent (> 8 marks)

Good (> 6 and <= 8 marks)

Satisfactory (>= 5 and <= 6 marks)

Fail (< 5 marks)

· Recommendations and comments will be given to participating laboratories with scores below five. Besides, the substandard practice of the concerned participant will be documented on the individual survey report.

Immunohistochemical Staining Module

Survey Materials:	Two paraffin sections
Test Requested:	Stain the slides and in-house controls with in-house antibodies and routine immunohistochemistry detection system.

Survey Materials: Two paraffin sections

Annual Continuous Assessment of Laboratory Performance

Survey Materials:	One paraffin section
Test Requested:	Stain the slide and in-house control with in-house antibodies and routine immunohistochemistry detection system. Same demonstration will be repeated for the whole year.

Frequency : Four times a year

Deadline for Return of Result: 16 days after the dispatch of survey materials

Return of Survey Result Form and Survey Slides

· Survey Result Form and Survey Slidesshall be returned on the day specified on the survey form (usually 16 calendar days after the dispatch of survey materials).

· Arrangement has been made with DHL to collect the survey form and materials from participants back to HKIMLSQAP. Participant has to place order to DHL according to the Guide provided.

· To maintain the integrity of the slides during transportation foam-padded envelope will be provided.

· HKIMLSQAP reserve the right not to evaluate the tests if broken slides are received.

Request for Replacement Samples

Participants can request a replacement of survey materials by submitting a formal request. The request form can be downloaded at:

http://www.hkimlsqap.org/Information/Form/Specimen Replacement Form.pdf

Objective Criteria for Performance Evaluation of Immunohistochemical Staining

· Survey shall be labelled with the corresponding test code, laboratory confidential code and staining performed.

· Control slides shall be labelled with the laboratory confidential code and staining performed

· Unlabelled and improperly labelled slides will not be evaluated by the panel and no mark will be given to those slides.

· Answered questionnaire sheets and stained slides have to be returned for assessment before the due date

· "Late Return" will be stated in the survey report and will not be marked.

· Returned slides will be examined and the staining quality will be evaluated by the Anatomical Pathology Panel with reference to the staining intensity.

· Signal to noise ratio is an important parameter for measuring the quality of immunohistochemical staining. Heavy background staining marks will be deducted.

Survey Reports

· Final report will be issued and dispatched on the next round of survey exercise.

· Survey data will be compiled and displayed in bar chart for comparison.

· The performance of the participant in immunohistochemical staining will be graded individually as excellent, good, satisfactory or fail according to the following grading system.

Ten is the highest score and five is the passing score.

Excellent (> 8 marks)

Good (> 6 and <= 8 marks)

Satisfactory (>= 5 and <= 6 marks)

Fail (< 5 marks)

Certificate of Participation

A certificate of participation will also be issued indicating the number of survey results returned timely for each module,

Enquiry

Should there be any enquiry on the survey; participants are requested to contact HKIMLSQAP for assistance.

Appeal

Should there be any data discrepancy in the survey report or any disagreement with the performance evaluation; participant can appeal to the chairman of HKIMLSQAP for amendment and review.

The appeal shall be lodged by making a written submission providing the grounds of the appeal within four weeks from the date of receiving the survey report.

Confidentiality

Each participant is assigned with a laboratory code for submitting survey result. The key to decipher the identities of participants is limited to few authorized members of HKIMLSQAP Council, (Council Chairman, Hon. Secretary and Office Staff) who are forbidden to release the identities of the participants.
Accreditation body would access to participant’s performance during assessment, however, HKIMLSQAP keeps all details of participant's identities confidential and will not disclose their identities to a third party unless required by legislation.

(852) 2499 0015 [Phone]
(852) 2124 2798 [Fax]
info@hkimlsqap.org [Email]

The Chairman
Quality Assurance Programme Committee
Hong Kong Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences Quality Assurance Programme Ltd.

Flat 1711, 17/F, Block C, Bell House,
525 - 543 Nathan Road, Yaumatei, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

Last updated on 04 Oct 2022.