Inter-laboratory external quality assessment schemes for specific IgE antibodies. The results of a European scheme for 1992.

External quality assessment programmes for specific IgE have been organised for some years in the United Kingdom, Belgium and the Netherlands but independently. This paper describes a co-operation scheme whereby the same samples were circulated simultaneously from each of the three countries and subsequent results combined to produce a single "EURO EQAS" report. Serum pools were prepared each containing antibodies, at differing concentrations, to 4 different allergens. The allergens surveyed represented the 10 most commonly encountered in Northern Europe. Results were submitted in grades (or classes) and in quantitative units and they showed some similarity by grade regardless of method used but differed greatly in units probably due to method differences. This paper shows how results could be treated to produce statistical data for the participants to help them be aware of their performance internally and also in comparison to other users.