ESLHO-EuroFlow PIDOT 2024
Primary ImmunoDeficiency Orientation Tube (PIDOT) EQA scheme
Aim of the PIDOT scheme
This scheme is designed to provide laboratories that routinely use the PIDOT antibody panel and related EuroFlow standard operating procedures (SOPs) with an external control for multiparametric flow cytometry screening for primary immunodeficiencies.
It is divided into two parts, a 'wet lab' part, in which participants stain peripheral blood samples with the PIDOT antibody panel and analyze the data, and a 'dry' part, in which participants download FCS files prepared by the EQA provider using peripheral blood of patients with suspected immunodeficiencies. Participants analyze these files and report their conclusions. Their performance is then compared to the reference results and to other (anonymized) participants.
Feedback: Report and EQA Educational meeting
After each EQA round you will be provided with a personalized certificate in which you can clearly see how your results compare to the reference values, but also how you perform in relation to the other participating laboratories. The EQA provider not only provides you with clear data, but also with tips. Details on performance evaluation and the report can be found in the Scheme information document available on the Resources page.
The EuroFlow EQA schemes are concluded by a EuroFlow EQA Educational meeting. This meeting is organized once a year and participation is free of charge for two representatives per participating laboratory, including coffee breaks and lunches. During the meeting, possible problems and pitfalls will be discussed and you will have the opportunity to ask your questions.
Organization
The PIDOT EQA scheme is organized by ESLHO (EQA Program Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Jacques J.M. van Dongen) in collaboration with the EuroFlow EQA Committee (PIDOT scheme lead: Prof. Dr. Carolien Bonroy). The members of the EuroFlow EQA Committee are participants of the EuroFlow Consortium. The EuroFlow subject-matter experts provide support for:
Pre-round: Case selection, determination of consensus results
During round: Reference lab results
Post-round: Data analysis, performance evaluation, reporting
Details on the task division can be found in the Scheme information document available on the Resources page.
Background info EuroFlow EQA program
The EuroFlow Consortium has established fully standardized methods for flow cytometry consisting of standardized instrument settings, reagent panels, sample preparation protocols, and software for data analysis and disease classification. The software tools enable large-scale data analysis and a direct comparison of individual cases against reference datasets composed of specific disease categories. The need for comparability of antigen expression measured in different centers calls for quality assessment to ensure that the high level of standardization is maintained in all participating centers. This also improves the reliability of the EuroFlow reference data.
Therefore, EuroFlow developed innovative and easy to implement external quality assessment (EQA) schemes that aim at monitoring the participants' flow cytometric process (cytometer settings, sample preparation, data acquisition, and/or data analysis an interpretation) and supporting them in implementing the EuroFlow protocols to the highest standard. The EuroFlow EQA program currently consists of schemes for the EuroFlow Lymphoid Screening Tube (LST), Primary Immunodeficiency Orientation Tube (PIDOT), Multiple Myeloma (MM) MRD tube, and B Cell Precursor-Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (BCP-ALL) MRD tube, and is meant to complement, but not to replace other established proficiency tests.