Proficiency Testing
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NASCOLA is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve diagnostic coagulation testing, through proficiency testing, critical evaluation, guideline development, enhanced communication, collaboration, education and research. NASCOLA provides proficiency testing for North American laboratories to evaluate and improve their diagnostic testing for coagulation disorders. Participation in the proficiency testing program requires NASCOLA membership.

 

Clinical Laboratories can join NASCOLA as an “Institutional Member”. Companies (that manufacture, distribute, or provide other services in the field of coagulation) can join NASCOLA as “Associate Members.” Individual memberships in NASCOLA are also available. Institutional and Associate Members have the option to participate in the proficiency testing/external quality assessment (PT/EQA) program. Additional privileges, for all categories of NASCOLA membership, include NASCOLA website access to educational and resource materials (open for all interested specialized coagulation laboratory staff of an Institutional Member, and to all interested company representatives of Associate Members). Trainees (physician and MT) of NASCOLA institutional members are also eligible to join (membership complimentary).

 

NASCOLA holds 1 major scientific conference per year, and 1 general membership meetings, often in conjunction with NASCOLA scientific conferences and other national meetings (THSNA, ISLH).

NASCOLA is pleased to offer Proficiency Testing Modules for nonregulated, specialized coagulation analytes at substantially lower costs than competitors.PT/EQA challenges are scheduled for March, May, August and November 2024. For optimal assessments of testing quality, PT/EQA challenges include normal and abnormal clinical samples (distributed as lyophilized sample sets). Participants receive individualized, confidential reports. Summary analyses for all modules are posted on the NASCOLA website. NASCOLA annual fees (by membership category) and 2024 Module Programs (available to Institutional and Associate Members only) are outlined in detail in the table.

NOTE: Orders placed later than December 9, 2023 are not guaranteed.

 

If you would like to join NASCOLA, or would like more information on the benefits of membership, contact us at http://www.nascola.com/Contact.aspx or send an e-mail to info@nascola.com

 

Please see the table for additional information regarding the NASCOLA Proficiency Testing Program.

2024 NASCOLA Fees and Module Programs 

MAIN PROGRAM
Description 
 

Number of surveys
 

Survey(s)
2024  
  M1M2M3M4 
 Dispatch dateMarMayAug Nov 
Thrombophilia – I
Antithrombin (activity and antigen), Protein C (activity [chromogenic and clotting] and antigen), Protein S activity, Protein S antigen (total and free)
4
Thrombophilia – II
APC Resistance
4
Lupus Anticoagulant / Antiphospholipid Antibodies 4  √
Coagulation Factor – I
Factor VIII (clot and chromogenic), IX:C, XI:C and XII:C
4
Coagulation Factor – II
Factor II:C, V:C, VII:C and X:C
4
Von Willebrand Factor parameters
(antigen, activity, collagen binding, multimers, Factor VIII)
4  
ADAMTS13 – I (activity and antigen) 4
ADAMTS13 – II (antibodies) 2   
Factor XIII (activity and antigen) 4  
Fibrinolysis – I
Plasminogen, Antiplasmin
4  
Fibrinolysis – II
t-PA, PAI-1
4
Factor VIII inhibitor (includes immunologic inhibitor study)2    
Factor IX Inhibitor 2    
Thrombin Generation Test 2    
HIT – I (immunological testing) 2    
Unfractionated Heparin Monitoring (anti-Xa) 4  
Low-Molecular Weight Heparin Monitoring (anti-Xa) 4  
Orgaran (anti-Xa) 2    
Fondaparinux (anti-Xa) 2    
Rivaroxaban (anti-Xa) 2    
Apixaban (anti-Xa) 2    
Edoxaban (anti-Xa)2   
Argatroban (anti-IIa, dTT) 2    
Dabigatran (anti-IIa, dTT) 2    
Homocysteine 4  

ROTEM/TEG PROGRAM
Description
 
 Number
of surveys
Survey(s)
2024
  T1 / T2T3 /T4 
Dispatch date
Mar/ MayAug/Nov 
ROTEM delta
□ 1 instrument / 1 set of samples ROTEM
□ 2 instruments / 2 sets of samples ROTEM
□ 3 instruments / 3 sets of samples ROTEM
4 √ / √  

 

 

 

ROTEM sigma
□ 1 instrument / 1 set of samples ROTEM
□ 2 instruments / 2 sets of samples ROTEM
□ 3 instruments / 3 sets of samples ROTEM
4 √  √  

 

 

 

 

TEG
□ 1 instrument / 1 set of samples TEG
□ 2 instruments / 2 sets of samples TEG
□ 3 instruments / 3 sets of samples TEG
4 √   √  

 

 

 

 

D-DIMER PROGRAM
Description
 
 Number
of surveys
Survey(s)
2023


  D1D2D3 D4  
Dispatch date: all samples sent together in February 2022      
D-Dimer
1 set of samples / max. 3 instruments
4  

SCREEN PROGRAM
Description 
 
 Number
of surveys

 
Survey(s)
2023
Dispatch date: all samples sent together in March 2023 S1 S2 S3S4S5S6 
Screen-I: APTT, PT/INR and Fibrinogen
1 set of samples / max. 3 instruments
8  
Screen-II: Thrombin Time and Reptilase time
1 set of samples / max. 3 instruments
8  
 
DESCRIPTION
NUMBER OF SURVEYS 
SURVEY CODES


 
HAEMOPHILIA PROGRAM
Haemophilia
Factor VIII (clot and chromogenic activity) Factor IX (clot and chromogenic activity)
 
4
 
2024-H1
 
2024-H2
 
2024-H3
 
2024-H4
 
 
Factor VIII inhibitor2 2024-H2 2024-H4  
Factor IX Inhibitor22024-H1 2024-H3   
Emicizumab2 2024-H2 2024-H4  
Kovaltry (Bayer)22024-H1 2024-H3 
 
Jivi (Bayer)22024-H1 2024-H3   
Esperoct (Novo Nordisk)2 2024-H2 2024-H4  
NovoEight (Novo Nordisk)2 2024-H2 2024-H4  
Refixia (Novo Nordisk)2 2024-H2 2024-H4  
 
DESCRIPTION
NUMBER OF SURVEYS 
SURVEY CODES


 
Fibrin(ogen) Degradation Products
FDP42024-F12024-F22024-F32024-F4  

 

DESCRIPTIONNUMBER OF SURVEYS 
SURVEY CODES
  
APTT / PT MIXING TEST PROGRAM
APTT / PT Mixing Test42024-
Mix1
2024-
Mix2
2024-
Mix3
2024-
Mix4
  
POCT INR QC PROGRAM
No annual subscription fee applicable if only participating in the POCT INR QC Program.
DescriptionSurveys
 2024-Q12024-Q22024-Q32024-Q4 
Dispatch datesFebAprJulyOct 
POCT INR QC Program
for CoaguChek INR monitors (any type)
 
OTHER SURVEYS
Description Organized
by
 Number
of
surveys
Survey
period(s)
2023


Post Analytical Platelet Function EQA (electronic survey) Nascola, USA 2 Spring, Autumn  
Platelet Dense Granule exercise (electronic survey) Nascola, USA  2 Spring, Autumn  
Case studies on bleeding disorders (distribution separately from the regular surveys) ECAT/
INSTAND 
1 Autumn  
Pre- and post-analytical electronic surveys in haemostasis ECAT  1 Autumn  

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(in cooperation with the DGKL, Germany)
 MOLECULAR GENETICS MG1
Survey
name
Description  Num-
ber
of
sur-
veys
Surveys
2024


   MG1
1/24
MG1
2/24
 
 Dispatch date MarchSept 
MG1 Set A FV-Leiden, Prothrombin, MTHFR(C677T, A1298C), PAI-I 4G5G 2  
MG1 Set B FXIII V34L, GPIIIa, βFib (g455a), VKORC1 (G-1639A/C1173T), FXII c46t, FV-H1299R 2  
MG1 Set C a1 PI, Apo E, ApoB100, ACE, CETP 2  
MG1 Set D Aldo B (149,147,334), HFE (H63D, C282Y, S65C), LCT c-13910t, NOD2 (R702W, G908R, L1007fins C) 2  
MG1 Set E  M. Wilson (ATP7B-C3207A), FSAP (Marburg-I), ITGA2 Gplalla C807T, Col1A1 SP1, VDR (Bsml/Apal,Taql) 2  
MG1 Set F Factor VII (R353Q), AT3 Cambridge Typ I/II, CYP3A5*3 2  
MOLECULAR GENETICS MG2 
Survey
name
Description  Num-
ber
of
sur-
veys
Surveys
2024


   MG2
1/24
MG2
2/24
 
 Dispatch date MarchSept 
MG2 Set A TMPT, CYP2C8 (K399R), CYP2C9 *2/*3, UGT1A1 (*28), DPYD *2A (Ex 14 skipping), BCHE A/K, DPYD *13, DPYD D949V (rs67376798) 2  
MG2 Set B K-Ras: Codon 12/13/61, BRAF V600E, BRAF V600K, cKit D816V 2  
MG2 Set C HLA-B27, TNF alpha (238, 308) 2  
MG2 Set D CYP2D6, CYP2C19 (*2/*17), CYP2C19*3 2  
MG2 Set E HLA B*5701, CYP2B6*6, ABCB1 (MDR1) c.3435>T, CCR5-del-32bp 2  
MG2 Set F IL28B (C/T Polymorphismus), IL6 (G174C), CYP3A4*22 2  

 DNA SEQUENCING
Survey
name
Description    Number
of
surveys
Surveys
2024

  
 
   SQ
1/24
SQ
2/24
 
 Dispatch date MarAug 
SQ DNA Sequencing (Sequencing and corresponding diagnostic interpretation) 2  
DNA ISOLATION
Survey
name
Description    Number
of
surveys
Surveys
2024

  
 
   DI
1/24
DI
2/24
 
 Dispatch date MarAug 
 DI DNA Isolation (DNA Isolation and FV genotyping)
The FV genotyping includes: FV-Leiden (ARG506GLN), FV-H1299R (HIS 1299ARG), FV-Cambridge (ARG306THR), FV-Hong-Kong (ARG306GLY), FII g20210a, MTHFR C677T, HFE (H63D, C282Y, S65C)
 2  √

 

NASCOLA Membership Dues and program charges are paid once, regardless of the number of PT/EQA Modules ordered. A NASCOLA membership account must be created before placing an order.

   

NASCOLA Membership Dues

 

Institutional Member (clinical labs)*……………………………… …$175 USD

Associate Member (vendors)*………………………………………..$1450 USD

Individual Member………………………………………………………….$50 USD

 *eligible to order PT/EQA modules 

 

Based on membership type, as outlined

Program Fee                                                                                                                               Internet result submission and internet access to reports

 

 

 

 

 

175