Scheme Information Sheets
Pre-eclampsia Markers
| Scheme Particulars | Indicative Details |
|---|---|
| Accreditation body | UKAS |
| ISO/IEC Accreditation status | ISO/IEC 17043:2023 |
| UKAS Accredited Proficiency Testing Provider No | 7860 |
| Objective of Scheme | Provides EQA coverage for PLGF based testing to help diagnose suspected preterm Pre-eclampsia. Placental Growth Factor (PLGF) based testing is used to help rule in or rule out pre-eclampsia. Some assays use PLGF only whilst others combine PLGF measurement with measurement of Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) to calculate a ratio. Testing - including assays to be used - is recommended in NICE guideline NG133: Hypertension in pregnancy: diagnosis and management and HealthTech guidance HTG630. The Scheme distributes a number of endogenous and manipulated specimens to cover concentrations in a healthy pregnancy and in a patient with Pre-eclampsia |
| Pre-, Analytical, Post- status | Analytical |
| Number of distributions per year (nominal) | 11 |
| Specimens per distribution | 3 |
| Number of Specimens per annum | 33 |
| Frequency of distribution | Monthly |
| Scoring system | ABC |
| Material distributed | Pooled or single donations of liquid human serum with or without exogenous added analyte |
| Programme Director(s) / Organiser(s) | Rachel Marrington |
| Criteria for participation | All, but overseas by courier |
| Nominal sample volume (mL) | 0.5 |
| Sample presentation TACs | All analytes in the same tube |
| Data in Chemistry on-line Dashboard | Yes |
| Analyte | Approx Range | Default Units | Target Value | B Score Limit (%) * | C Score Limit (%) * |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLGF | 0 – 60 | ng/L | MLTM | 25.0 | 15.0 |
| sFlt-1 | 0 – 1500 | ng/L | MLTM | 25.0 | 15.0 |
| sFlt-1/PLGF ratio | 0 – 30 | ~ | MLTM | 25.0 | 15.0 |
* Under review and likely to be reduced from April 2027
| Abbreviation | Expansion |
|---|---|
| ALTM | All Laboratory Trimmed Mean |
| GLTM | Group Laboratory Trimmed Mean – which is the Method Principle Mean |
| MLTM | Method Laboratory Trimmed Mean – usually a manufacturer system / analyser mean |
| XALTM | An external value that may be from a Reference Method System |
| OGLTM | A Method Principle Mean used as the target for all laboratories |
| OMLTM | A specific Method Mean used as a target for all laboratories |
| OMMED | A Method Median used as the target for all laboratories |
| MED | Median |
This is an area of growth for laboratories, and we would like to work with laboratories and involve them in the development of the service. Please contact Birmingham Quality if you have any ideas of what the Scheme could probe.
