General Information

For more detailed information follow these links

• Proficiency Testing Policies
• Scoring Overview
• Scoring Tolerances

What is proficiency testing?

Proficiency testing is a method of externally validating the accuracy of laboratory performance by testing samples and comparing results of all participating laboratories. A proficiency testing provider, such as WSLH PT, sends samples to participants who have enrolled in the program. The participants analyze the samples as they do patient samples and return the results to the PT provider. The results are tabulated and evaluated and scored reports are sent back to the laboratory. A participating laboratory can then compare its results with those of other laboratories who use the same method.

Why enroll in Proficiency Testing?

To comply with CLIA '88, laboratories performing moderate and high complexity tests must be enrolled in regulatory PT for their particular specialties/subspecialties of testing. For non-regulated analytes in these categories, CLIA dictates that labs must establish accuracy and reliability at least twice a year. A convenient way to accomplish this is by subscribing to a PT program that monitors those analytes. For analytes performed by waived instrumentation or methodologies, subscribing to a PT program is a part of a good Quality Assurance (QA) plan and may be required by your certification agency.

Why enroll in WSLH Proficiency Testing?

WSLH PT is one of a limited number of proficiency testing providers approved by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), formerly HCFA, and COLA and accepted by CAP and JCAHO. We have provided proficiency testing services to laboratories for more than 40 years and as a working clinical and environmental laboratory employing more than 300 people, WSLH PT has experience with the issues that can affect laboratory performance.