EQA Client News 2/2025
Welcome to the second EQA client newsletter of 2025! Topics covered in this newsletter:
For the next year, we will expand our EQA portfolio with at least six new schemes! The following ones will be included in the product catalogue 2026:
- 5305 Bacterial vaginosis and vaginitis multiplex, nucleic acid detection
- 5043 Gram stain, vaginal fluid
- 6800 HPV-related head and neck cancer control
- 2708 Human Erythropoietin and Thrombopoietin
- 2756 Immunosuppressants
- 5688 West Nile virus, antibodies
More information will be available soon when the product catalogue is published.
Occasionally, we must drop schemes from our portfolio. The reason is either such a low number of participants that it limits statistical result processing for several consecutive years, unavailability of good quality sample material or a change in laboratory diagnostics: examination becomes less relevant over time, for example, SARS-CoV-2, antibodies. Sometimes a scheme is merged with another one: in 2026, we have 5593 Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A), nucleic acid detection in pharyngeal sample included in scheme 5595 Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A), detection in pharyngeal sample. Scheme 5595 is suitable for both nucleic acid and antigen testing methods.
Discontinued schemes and/or products
- 4231 Leucocyte differential count, 5-part, automated: Cell-Dyn
- 4239 Leucocyte differential count, 5-part, automated: Mythic
- 5470 Parasites in blood, Giemsa stain, virtual microscopy
- 5471 Parasites in blood, MGG stain, virtual microscopy
- 4156 Reticulocyte count, Mindray
- 5677 SARS-CoV-2, antibodies
- 5593 Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A), nucleic acid detection in pharyngeal sample
- 4190 White blood cell differential count: HemoCue, POCT
- 5636 Zika virus, antibodies
In this section, we will present an example of Aurevia’s comprehensive product selection, which offers excellent solutions for external quality assessment. Our product catalogue covers several specialities, and we organise EQA rounds both virtually and traditionally, with samples analysed in the laboratory. In the final report, essential observations and sample contents of the rounds have been compiled, where experts play a key role in evaluating the results. We have 120 experts working on external quality assessment as part of the processing and reporting of results.
In particular, this time we would like to highlight the virtual pathology reports, which provide comprehensive information and educational perspectives. These reports are not only informative but also practical. In our portfolio, there are four virtual pathology schemes:
- 6542 - Histopathology, virtual microscopy
- 6700 - Gynaecological cytology (smear), virtual microscopy
- 6701 - Gynaecological cytology (liquid based), virtual microscopy
- 6702 - Non-gynaecological cytology, virtual microscopy
The virtual schemes are organised in collaboration with a Finnish scanning and virtual image service provider, Aiforia. The participants can access the images directly from LabScala and can submit their answers there at the same time.
The round reports cover, depending on the round, features and best practices related to the diagnostic interpretation of histopathological or cytological samples, which can help to deepen the expertise in identifying pathological changes. Each round has an expert who provides comments to the report letter, highlighting key points in interpretation and defining a reference diagnosis. The expert also assesses how consistent the interpretations were across participants.
Some of the virtual pathology rounds can also utilise modern AI-assisted image recognition to define the AI reference diagnosis. As an example, we present a case from the Histopathology Prostate Round 2, 2023.
We recommend that you familiarise yourself with these reports - we believe that they can provide you with valuable insights.
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Case example: An 80-year-old man. Statement from the expert’s report letter: In the prostate biopsy sample, there is cribriform and glomeruloid carcinoma. The most common Gleason grade is Gleason 4, and 91% recognised it. Gleason grade 4 is also the most aggressive grade as well as grade 3 is less than 5%. The interpretations by the AI models, participants, and the expert were generally aligned, though minor variations were observed. Overall, AI-assisted models support diagnostics and can also be used in defining reference results for external quality assessment. |
Scientific Posters
In May, Aurevia visited the Euromedlab 2025 congress in beautiful Brussels. Euromedlab is organised by the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) and the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM). It was hosted in Brussels by the Royal Belgian Society of Laboratory Medicine (RBSLM).
Aurevia presented two posters at the congress. The first poster , Evaluating Histopathology EQA scheme results: Human Expertise versus AI algorithms , by our EQA Director Jonna Pelanti, compares the visual image GG analysis of the scheme participants with two different AI standalone results. In the second poster, Enhancing Pipetting Quality: Monitoring and Maintaining using EQA, our EQA Solutions Manager, Kristel Virtanen, presented results from the EQA program for pipettes during 2024.
Labquality Polska
Labquality Polska Sp. z o.o. is a company owned by Aurevia Oy in Poland. Labquality Polska acts as Aurevia’s distributor for the Labquality EQAS business. Labquality Polska’s office is located in Gdynia, and the company currently employs three people. The operations are managed by CEO Aleksandra Fijalkowska, assisted by EQA coordinator Adrianna Chwiej and EQA assistant Magdalena Dembska.
There are currently over 900 customers in Poland who order a wide range of external quality assessment programs. Aurevia sends a huge number of sample packages to Poland every week, which Aleksandra’s team then forwards to laboratories all over Poland. This year, there are over 14,000 orders and deliveries, which keep the team busy all year round.
Labquality Polska also participates in the localisation of the EQA service. Aleksandra’s team translates the instruction letters into Polish, and they are pre-packed in sample boxes. They also have their own contracted experts who translate EQA reports together with Aleksandra's team into Polish. Professional customer service in the customers’ native language and document translations are one of the secrets of Labquality Polska’s success.
Aleksandra, Adrianna and Magdalena are experienced external quality assessment professionals, and they are motivated by interesting work that has meaning.
Labquality Polska wishes everyone a sunny summer!
Labquality Days, formerly known in Finnish as Laaduntarkkailupäivät - Quality Assurance Days, celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in 2026! The first event was held in the Finlandia Hall in 1976 with four hundred Finnish attendants. Topics included the company's operations, properties of control serum, reference methods and sample collection.
In 1990, the congress became international with the first speakers from Nordic Countries. In 1993, the congress had more international guests from Scandinavia, the Baltic countries, Central Europe and the USA. The first quality assurance awards were given in 1994. An innovation in 1996 was the poster exhibition, which had 16 posters (6 in English).
In the opening lecture in 2007, visitors were welcomed to Labquality Days for the first time, which has been the name of the congress ever since.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary next year, Labquality Days has expanded into Northern Europe's largest international congress focusing on quality in laboratory medicine and health technology, with nearly 1,200 guests from over 40 countries.
Registration for Labquality Days is open!
Labquality Days – the International Congress on Quality in Laboratory Medicine and Health Technology – will be held in Helsinki, 5-6 February 2026. Registration for the 2026 congress is now open, so get your ticket now at the Super Saver price!
The international scientific program of the congress covers quality in laboratory medicine, developing health technology and clinical evidence generation. See the program on the Labquality Days website - speakers and lecture titles will be launched on 1 September 2025.
ePoster Exhibition
Present your studies, latest developments and scientific research at the ePoster exhibition! At Labquality Days, you will reach a wide international audience and a group of laboratory medicine and health tech professionals to whom you can present your research results or projects.
If you present an ePoster, use the discount code LQDPOSTER when you register, and you will get a 25% discount.
Become an Exhibitor
Join us as an exhibitor, meet your customers and create new relationships with potential customers face-to-face. Labquality Days offers an excellent framework and a relaxed environment for deepening relationships and creating contacts.
Our event reaches nearly 1,300 visitors, so your company has the opportunity to gain visibility and increase recognition with minimal effort. Launching products or services during the event effectively reaches your potential customers. 95% of the 2025 Labquality Days exhibitors recommend our event!
Exhibitor registration opens on 1 September 2025, but you can take a sneak peek at the opportunities here.
Summer holiday closing times
As every year, Aurevia's customer service and EQA solutions teams are on holiday for two weeks between 21 July and 3 August. We wish you a great summer!