Chemical Pathology

The RCPAQAP Chemical Pathology discipline programs are run in association with the Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists (AACB) whose members provide expertise and assistance via specialised Advisory Committees. The Advisory Committees are involved in setting target values, providing expert opinion for reports, participant queries, and collecting and preparing quality assurance material.

All Chemical Pathology Full Programs are made up of two components:

  • Data Management – which includes result entry and all associated Survey, End-of-Cycle and KPI reports. A Participant Handbook and Schedules, along with all Result and Method Sheets are supplied in the RCPAQAP myQAP online customer portal.
  • Full program (material) – a complete set of material containing all the samples to be analysed for the full enrolment year is distributed to participants following enrolment. The material is lyophilised unless indicated otherwise.

Only one method code is permitted per analyte. If a participant wishes to report more than one method code per analyte then a new Participant Number is required and an additional Data Management enrolment may be purchased.

The Chemical Pathology Programs Safety Data Sheet (SDS) can be accessed here.

Alcohol and Ammonia

Catalogue Number

15010102

Frequency (No of surveys/year)

12

Cases/samples per survey

2

Sample Type

Aqueous bovine serum albumin

Sample volume

3mL

Schedule

Monthly

Measurand/Test

Ethanol, Ammonia

Storage and Handling

Refrigerate samples (2-8°C) upon receipt

Product details last updated on September 10, 2020

B Natriuretic Peptide (BNP)

Catalogue Number

15060102

Frequency (No of surveys/year)

12

Cases/samples per survey

2

Sample Type

Lyophilised serum

Sample volume

0.5mL

Schedule

Monthly

Measurand/Test

B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP), N-terminal Prohormone B-type Natriuretic Peptide (NT-pro BNP)

Storage and Handling

Refrigerate samples (2-8°C) upon receipt

Product details last updated on September 10, 2020

Bile Acids

Catalogue Number

15030102

Frequency (No of surveys/year)

12

Cases/samples per survey

2

Sample Type

Lyophilised serum

Sample volume

2mL

Schedule

Monthly

Measurand/Test

Total Bile Acids

Storage and Handling

Refrigerate samples (2-8°C) upon receipt

Product details last updated on September 10, 2020

Blood Gases

Catalogue Number

15040102

Frequency (No of surveys/year)

12

Cases/samples per survey

2

Sample Type

Aqueous bovine albumin buffered matrix

Sample volume

2.5mL

Schedule

Monthly

Measurand/Test

pH, Potassium, Ionised Calcium, pCO2, Chloride, Urea, pO2, Glucose, Creatinine, Sodium, Lactate

Storage and Handling

Refrigerate samples (2-8°C) upon receipt

Product details last updated on October 19, 2020

Blood Gases: CO-oximetry

Catalogue Number

15050102

Frequency (No of surveys/year)

12

Cases/samples per survey

2

Sample Type

Lyophilised bovine haemoglobin

Sample volume

0.5mL

Schedule

Monthly

Measurand/Test

Haemoglobin, Oxyhaemoglobin, Carboxyhaemoglobin, Methaemoglobin

Storage and Handling

Refrigerate samples (2-8°C) upon receipt. Protect from light.

Product details last updated on September 10, 2020

Body Fluids

Catalogue Number

15070102

Frequency (No of surveys/year)

6

Cases/samples per survey

2

Sample Type

Diluted serum

Sample volume

3mL

Schedule

Bimonthly

Measurand/Test

Albumin, Amylase, Cholesterol, Creatinine, Glucose, Lactate, Lactate Dehydrogenase, Lipase, Osmolality, pH, Potassium, Protein (total), Sodium, Triglycerides, Urate, Urea, CA19-9, CEA

Storage and Handling

Refrigerate samples (2-8°C) upon receipt

Product details last updated on September 10, 2020

C Reactive Protein

Catalogue Number

15080102

Frequency (No of surveys/year)

12

Cases/samples per survey

2

Sample Type

Serum

Sample volume

0.5mL

Schedule

Monthly

Measurand/Test

C-Reactive Protein

Storage and Handling

Refrigerate samples (2-8°C) upon receipt

Product details last updated on September 10, 2020

Compact Serum Chemistry (for Overseas Participants only)

Material provided to assess performance across a range of routine chemical pathology assays including therapeutic drugs and endocrine.

Catalogue Number

15090102

Frequency (No of surveys/year)

6

Cases/samples per survey

2

Sample Type

Lyophilised serum and matching diluent

Sample volume

5mL

Schedule

Bimonthly

Measurand/Test

Albumin, Bicarbonate, Bilirubin-Total, Bilirubin-Conjugated, Icterus (Quantitative), Icterus, (Qualitative), Calcium, Chloride, Creatinine, Fructosamine, Glucose, Lactate, Lithium, Magnesium, Osmolality, Phosphate (Inorganic), Potassium, Protein (Total), Sodium, Urate, Urea, Troponin I (Quantitative), Troponin T (Quantitative), Troponin T (Semi-Qualitative, Roche Cardiac Reader only), Troponin T (Qualitative) | Enzymes: ALT, Alkaline Phosphatase, Amylase, AST, Cholinesterase, Creatine Kinase, CK-MB, GGT, Lactate Dehydrogenase, Lipase, Iron, TIBC, Transferrin, Ferritin | Lipids: Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol, Triglyceride | Endocrine: Cortisol, Thyroxine, Free T4, TSH, Total T3, Free T3, hCG (Quantitative), hCG (Qualitative) | Drugs: Carbamazepine, Digoxin, Paracetamol, Phenobarbitone, Phenytoin, Salicylate, Theophylline, Valproate, Gentamicin, Vancomycin.

Storage and Handling

Refrigerate samples (2-8°C) upon receipt

Additional Comments

This program is ONLY available to participants outside Australia and New Zealand

Product details last updated on October 28, 2020

Condensed General Serum Chemistry (Overseas Participants only)

Material provided to assess performance across a range of routine chemical pathology assays including therapeutic drugs and endocrine

Catalogue Number

15100102

Frequency (No of surveys/year)

12

Cases/samples per survey

2

Sample Type

Lyophilised serum and matching diluent

Sample volume

5mL

Schedule

Monthly

Measurand/Test

Albumin, Bicarbonate, Bilirubin-Total, Bilirubin-Conjugated, Icterus (Quantitative), Icterus, (Qualitative), Calcium, Chloride, Creatinine, Fructosamine, Glucose, Lactate, Lithium, Magnesium, Osmolality, Phosphate (Inorganic), Potassium, Protein (Total), Sodium, Urate, Urea, Troponin I (Quantitative), Troponin T (Quantitative), Troponin T (Semi-Qualitative, Roche Cardiac Reader only), Troponin T (Qualitative) | Enzymes: ALT, Alkaline Phosphatase, Amylase, AST, Cholinesterase, Creatine Kinase, CK-MB, GGT, Lactate Dehydrogenase, Lipase, Iron, TIBC, Transferrin, Ferritin | Lipids: Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol, Triglyceride | Endocrine: Cortisol, Thyroxine, Free T4, TSH, Total T3, Free T3, hCG (Quantitative), hCG (Qualitative) | Drugs: Carbamazepine, Digoxin, Paracetamol, Phenobarbitone, Phenytoin, Salicylate, Theophylline, Valproate, Gentamicin, Vancomycin.

Storage and Handling

Refrigerate samples (2-8°C) upon receipt

Additional Comments

Troponin T (semi-qualitative) on Roche Instruments. Participants using the Roche Cardiac Reader should enrol in the General Serum Chemistry Program. Participants using Roche Cobas h232 instruments should enrol in the PoCT Troponin Program. This is due to the different cut-offs, standardisation and units for these 2 instruments

Product details last updated on November 2, 2020

Condensed PoCT: Blood Gases

Designed to assess related methods available on i-STAT type analysers

Catalogue Number

15110102

Frequency (No of surveys/year)

6

Cases/samples per survey

2

Sample Type

Aqueous bovine albumin buffered matrix

Sample volume

2.5mL

Schedule

Bimonthly

Measurand/Test

pH, Sodium, Glucose, Ionised Calcium, pCO2, Potassium, Haemoglobin, Haematocrit, pO2, Chloride, Lactate, Creatinine, TCO2, Urea

Storage and Handling

Refrigerate samples (2-8°C) upon receipt

Product details last updated on September 10, 2020

Condensed PoCT: Troponin

Material provided for assessment of Troponin T and I and Total HCG on PoC devices

Catalogue Number

15120102

Frequency (No of surveys/year)

6

Cases/samples per survey

2

Sample Type

Lyophilised plasma

Sample volume

1mL

Schedule

Bimonthly

Measurand/Test

Troponin I, Troponin T (semi-quantitative e.g. h232), Total HCG

Storage and Handling

Refrigerate samples (2-8°C) upon receipt

Product details last updated on October 28, 2020

CSF: Chemistry

Catalogue Number

15140102

Frequency (No of surveys/year)

12

Cases/samples per survey

2

Sample Type

Lyophilised CSF

Sample volume

2mL

Schedule

Monthly

Measurand/Test

Total Protein, Immunoglobulin G, Glucose, Lactate, Albumin, Xanthochromia Screen – Haemoglobin (absorbance & qualitative), Xanthochromia Screen – Bilirubin (absorbance, concentration & qualitative)

Storage and Handling

Refrigerate samples (2-8°C) upon receipt. Protect from light.

Product details last updated on September 10, 2020