Guidance

Summary of changes for Technical EQA

Updated 6 October 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cervical-screening-cytology-samples-external-quality-assessment/summary-of-changes-for-technical-eqa

1. Throughout:

  1. Updated scheme contact information
  2. Removal of references to management board and replacement with steering group
  3. Change reference to national cervical QA lead to NHS England Consultant in Public Health/Senior Clinical Lead for Cervical Screening

2. Chapter 2: EQA Scheme Enquiries

For scheme related enquires please contact the Screening Quality Assurance Service (SQAS) via email on england.eqa@nhs.net

Updated contact information to use new generic email address.

3. Chapter 4: Scheme roles and responsibilities

3.1 4.2 Scheme organiser and deputy scheme organiser

NHS England subcontracts the scheme organiser role.

Updated nomenclature to change name from NHSE/I to NHSE

3.2 4.3 National EQA Team

The NHS England Consultant in Public Health/Senior Clinical Lead for Cervical Screening has national responsibility for EQA as part of their role for cervical screening including day-to-day support and advice to the EQA operations team.

Updated role title for national cervical QA lead

4. Chapter 5: Governance

Remove reference to EQA management board

5. Chapter 6: Conditions of entry for laboratories

The agreement describes the general terms and conditions of participation for all parties. This is subject to periodic review.

Include statement of the laboratory agreement being subject to periodic review

The agreement also applies to private laboratories and those from outside the UK participating in the scheme.

Clarification of language relating to participation of private laboratories

6. 6.1 Terms and conditions

Deleted sentence relating to EQA scheme accreditation to 17043

Removal of statement regarding scheme’s intention to obtain ISO17043 accreditation

7. Chapter 7: Eligibility requirements

7.1 7.2 Private cervical screening laboratories in the UK

Deleted sentence relating to provision of pooled samples to be provided by private laboratories

Removal of statement of provision of pooled samples by private laboratories

7.2 7.3 Cervical screening laboratories outside the UK

Deleted sentence relating to provision of pooled samples to be provided by private laboratories

Removal of statement of provision of pooled samples by private laboratories

8. Chapter 8: Laboratory responsibilities

8.1 8.3 Confidentiality

All data relating to participating laboratories and TEQA assessors is confidential. The EQA facilitator must store all electronic data in areas accessible only to authorised EQA scheme staff.

Updated language on confidentiality and storage of participant data

8.2 8.5 Professional code of conduct

Remove reference to EQA management board

9. Chapter 11: Organising the assessments

The EQA facilitator will identify an individual to lead the assessment. A trainee may also attend and participate in the assessment although their scores will not count towards the result. Non-participating assessors are encouraged to attend in a ‘shadowing’ capacity in order to maintain competence in the assessment process.

Updated statement on the conducting of assessments

10. Chapter 15: The assessment process

10.1 15.1 Stages of the assessment

  • “…independent assessment of cervical cytology samples and subsequent individual scoring to given criteria”

“…The lead assessor, with support from the EQA facilitator, makes sure the panel reaches agreement in the allocated timeframe.”

Clarification of description of process and key roles

11. Chapter 18: Communication

11.1 18.2 Complaints

Complaints go directly to the EQA facilitator england.eqa@nhs.net in the first instance. The participant laboratory can contact the scheme organiser if a complaint is not resolved.

If the issue is still unresolved, the participant laboratory can then refer their complaint to the chair of the EQA steering group. The EQA steering group decision is final

Updated contact information to use new generic email address

Change reference to EQA management board to ‘EQA steering group’

11.2 18.3 Appeals

Laboratories wishing to appeal their performance assessment must contact the EQA facilitator at england.eqa@nhs.net in the first instance.

Updated contact information to use new generic email address

11.3 18.5 Participants’ annual meeting

Meetings are conducted virtually.

Update to meeting format

11.4 18.6 Scheme audit

The EQA steering group authorises the audit strategy and audit programme, and can advise adjustments if necessary.

Change reference to EQA management board to ‘EQA steering group’

11.5 18.6 Annual Report

The scheme produces an annual report for:

  • participating laboratories and participants
  • members of the EQA steering group and EQA operational group
  • NHS England cervical screening cervical cytology professional network
  • directors of pathology screening education and training centres
  • chair of the Senior Quality Assurance and Development Group
  • Consultant in Public Health/National EQA Lead for distribution to cervical screening QA staff
  • RCPath
  • UKAS

Update to list of recipients of annual report

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