We provide a Proficiency Testing (PT) programme to laboratories working with biospecimens, including biorepositories, clinical laboratories, research organisations and bioservice providers. Our research focus on biospecimen science, our dedication to quality and our range of in-house services make us an ideal partner for PT. Our PT programme is endorsed by the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER).
The PT programme provides an external quality assessment tool to verify the precision and accuracy of your biospecimen testing methods, and the efficiency of your processing methods.
The principle of performance benchmarking applied in our PT programme means that your results will be compared to those of other laboratories, from different sectors all over the world.
Proficiency testing offers organisations that are seeking compliance with ISO 20387, ISO 17025, ISO 15189, CLIA, CAP or equivalent, the opportunity to fulfill the respective normative requirements.
By participating in our PT programme you can assure customers, collaborators, funding agencies and regulatory bodies of the validity of your results. This can help build your reputation for high quality laboratory methods and gain international visibility.
The assessment of your laboratory’s proficiency allows you to monitor and improve performance by identifying potential problems and providing additional motivation. Regular participation in our PT programme will also prove consistency of performance over time.
The 2023 PT programme includes 22 processing and testing schemes.
You can decide to participate in one or more schemes for 1, 2 or 3 consecutive years.
CIRCULATING TUMOUR CELLS (CTC) ISOLATION AND DETECTION
DUAL DNA/RNA EXTRACTION FROM FROZEN TISSUE
CSF ALIQUOTING
VIABLE PBMC ISOLATION
DNA EXTRACTION FROM BUFFY COAT – NEW!
DNA EXTRACTION FROM WHOLE BLOOD
DNA EXTRACTION FROM FFPE MATERIAL
DNA EXTRACTION FROM FROZEN TISSUE
MICROBIAL DNA EXTRACTION FROM SALIVA
MICROBIAL DNA EXTRACTION FROM STOOL
CELL FREE DNA (cfDNA) EXTRACTION FROM WHOLE BLOOD
RNA EXTRACTION FROM BUFFY COAT – NEW!
RNA EXTRACTION FROM WHOLE BLOOD
RNA EXTRACTION FROM FFPE MATERIAL
TOTAL RNA EXTRACTION FROM FROZEN TISSUE
CELL FREE RNA (cfRNA) EXTRACTION FROM PLASMA
DNA QUANTIFICATION AND PURITY
RNA QUANTIFICATION AND PURITY
RNA INTEGRITY
CELL VIABILITY
DNA INTEGRITY
TISSUE HISTOLOGY
08 May 2023: Registration opens online
31 August 2023: Registration closes
October 2023: Standardised samples will be shipped to your location
November 2023: Data submission deadline
March 2024: Your report(s) will be sent electronically
Pricing
PT schemes fall under three different price categories. The prices indicated in the table below are per individual scheme.
If you decide to participate in 2 or 3 consecutive years for a defined scheme, you will benefit from a 7.5 or 15% discount, respectively. ISBER members benefit from a 15% discount on all the listed fees. You can participate in one or more PT schemes.
The table below summarises the fees ** (in EUR) for the 2023 PT programme:
Schemes | Code | 2023 |
DNA Quantification and Purity* | DNAQ23 | €499 |
RNA Integrity* | RNAI23 | €499 |
RNA Quantification and Purity* | RNAQ23 | €499 |
Cell Viability* | CELL23 | €499 |
DNA integrity* | DNAI23 | €499 |
Tissue Histology* | THIS23 | €399 |
CSF Aliquoting*** | CSAL23 | €399 |
DNA Extraction from Buffy Coat – NEW!*** | DNABLD23 | €299 |
DNA Extraction from Whole Blood*** | DNABFF23 | €299 |
DNA Extraction from FFPE Material*** | DNAFFC23 | €299 |
RNA Extraction from Buffy Coat – NEW!*** | DNABFF23 | €299 |
RNA Extraction from Whole Blood*** | RNABLD23 | €299 |
RNA Extraction from FFPE Material*** | RNAFFC23 | €299 |
Microbial DNA Extraction from Saliva*** | DNASAL23 | €299 |
Microbial DNA Extraction from Stool*** | DNASTL23 | €299 |
Cell Free DNA (cfDNA) Extraction from Whole Blood*** | cfDNA23 | €299 |
DNA Extraction from Frozen Tissue*** | DNAFRT23 | €299 |
Total RNA Extraction from Frozen Tissue*** | RNAFRT23 | €299 |
Viable PBMC Isolation*** | PBMC23 | €299 |
Cell Free RNA (cfRNA) Extraction from Plasma*** | cfRNA23 | €299 |
Dual DNA/RNA Extraction from Frozen Tissue*** | DUALFRT23 | €299 |
Circulating Tumour Cells (CTC) Isolation and Detection | CTC23 | €299 |
* For these schemes, you may test multiple methods in the same run according to the lists of accepted methods. For DNAQ23, RNAQ23, RNAI23, DNAI23, CELL23 and THIS23, you may enter up to 10 replicate measurements.
**Prices are subject to change. Terms and conditions apply.
***Shipping costs to IBBL will be covered by the participants.
No refunds are available after the registration deadline. Partial refunds are available for cancellation requests received in writing prior to the end of the registration period, after an administrative cancellation fee of 100€ (EUR) is applied.
French clients are normally eligible for tax relief of up to 50% on their R&D expenditure at IBBL. Read more about the Crédit d’impôt recherche.
N.B.: the street address on the registration form will be used as the SHIPPING address. If the samples should be shipped to a different address, please send that address to ISBERPT@ibbl.lu.
REGISTER
GET IN TOUCH
DATA PROTECTION NOTICE
Our PT programme works as an external quality assessment tool that lets you verify and benchmark the performance of your biospecimen processing or testing methods through the following steps:
In the end, each participant receives:
If you have registered for the 2023 PT programme, you can access your account by clicking on the login button below.
You should also download the Participant Manual, the Instructions for Shipment (only for Processing Schemes) and the information sheets corresponding to the schemes you have signed up for: