Applications for the HbA1c proficiency test (EurA1c program) organized by IFCC are received by TÜBİTAK UME.
Considering the country's priorities, the Reference Materials Laboratory was established in 2012 under the Chemistry Group of TÜBİTAK National Metrology Institute to produce certified reference materials needed for measurements in the fields of health, environment and food safety and to organize qualification tests. https://rm.ume.tubitak.gov.tr/
Organized by the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC), Education Committee on the Use of Diabetes Biomarkers (IFCC C-EUBD), HbA1c proficiency tests (EurA1c program) have been organized throughout Europe since 2016 in order to evaluate the standardization status of Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) measurement results performed in clinical laboratories of European countries (ensuring harmonization between laboratories), to compare the performance of countries and devices used in measurements, and our country's laboratories contribute to this program every year. The program is coordinated by Prof. Dr. Diler Aslan, Faculty Member of Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry, who has studies in this field in our country. The organization and financing of the program is carried out by TÜBİTAK UME.
Approximately 50 medical (clinical) laboratories from our country participated in the EurA1c proficiency testing programs organized between 2016 and 2020 and the results of these studies are given in the annexes (Annexes 1-5).
The "EurA1c Interlaboratory Comparison Project Turkey Final Report", which evaluates the participation results of clinical laboratories in Turkey in EurA1c 2016, EurA1c 2017 and EurA1c 2018 programs, is attached (Annex 6).
In the 2021 EurA1c 2021 program, clinical laboratories that measure HbA1c throughout Turkey will be invited and participating laboratories will be determined based on the order of application and/or geographical representation.
The application form for participation in the study (Annex 7) and the EurA1c Proficiency Test announcement are attached (Annex 8). The relevant laboratories should fill in the application form and contact the coordinator Prof. Dr. Diler Aslan "daslan@pau.edu.tr" and the organizer Dr. Fatma AKÇADAĞ "ume.h1acdiskalite@tubitak.gov.tr" e-mail addresses until October 20, 2021 at the latest.
Annexes
2.EurA1c-2017 Report (16 pages)
3.EurA1c-2018 Report (16 pages)
4.EurA1c-2019 Report (18 pages)
5.EurA1c-2020 Report (21 pages)
6.EurA1c-2016-2018 Turkey Final Report (61 pages)
7.EurA1c-2020 Proficiency Test Application Form (1 page)
8.EurA1c-2020 Proficiency Test Application Announcement (2 pages)
