Which statement about external quality assessment (EQA) is accurate?

• A. EQA results are used only for compliance.
• B. EQA provides external evaluation by comparing results with a program where samples are sent to multiple laboratories.
• C. EQA replaces proficiency testing.
• D. EQA and proficiency testing are identical.

Answer: (B)

External quality assessment is about measuring a lab’s performance by comparing its results with those from a program that sends identical samples to many laboratories. This external comparison reveals how a lab’s results stack up against peers, helping to detect biases, imprecision, or drift that internal quality controls might miss. It supports ongoing quality improvement and benchmarking, not just compliance. Proficiency testing is a part of EQA, but EQA is broader and includes additional feedback and inter-lab comparisons; they’re not identical, and EQA does not replace proficiency testing. The description that matches the concept is the one that emphasizes external evaluation through multi-lab sample testing and comparison.