We are pleased to announce that the final report for the interlaboratory study on accuracy and precision in the analysis of standard solutions – STRD0521 – is now available. Thank you for your patience. Please retrieve your copy from the FIS-VL. We would be grateful if you would fill out the follow-up questionnaire available here. All participants have received the password via e-mail.

Due to a shortage of staff the publication of the final report for the proficiency test NIIM1021 has to be postponed to June 2022.Following up on the preliminary report, only minor changes were necessary and therefore, the z-scores will only change minimally for the final report. Any specific questions regarding the proficiency test or the analysis of nitroimidazoles in plasma and milk in general can be submitted to the EURL Berlin.

The preliminary report for the proficiency test STRD0521 is now available on the FIS-VL. The objective of this proficiency test was to allow the participants to assess the performance of their routine methods for the analysis of nitroimidazoles in plasma. Additionally, a milk sample was supplied, which participants were asked to analyse using their routine method for the analysis of milk, or, if no such method was available, their analytical method for plasma. All participants are asked to have a look at their results and communicate any deviations from the results they submitted to the EURL Berlin by 15 December 2021.

The deadline for the proficiency test NIIM1021 has been postponed to 25th November 2021. General information on this PT is given here.

The preliminary report for the proficiency test STRD0521 is now available on the FIS-VL. The objective of this proficiency test was to check the accuracy of the standard solutions participants apply in routine analysis. All participants are asked to have a look at their results and communicate any deviations from the results they submitted to the EURL Berlin by 24 September 2021.

The registration for the forthcoming EURL Berlin proficiency test on the determination of nitroimidazoles in plasma and milk is now open. Please register by filling out the following form until 03 September 2021 (password provided by e-mail):

https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/NIIM1021Registration

Further information are available here.

The replacement sample sets for the proficiency test STRD0521 have been picked up by the logistics provider at BVL yesterday. The parcels are currently en route and are scheduled to arrive at their destination today or tomorrow. All participants expecting a replacement shipment are asked to confirm the sample receipt immediately using the form available here. The password has been provided by e-mail.

Considering the delay caused by the loss of the shipments by the logistics provider which now shifts the time alotted for the sample analysis into the summer holiday season, the EURL Berlin has decided to adjust the deadline for result submission. The new deadline will be 06 September, 2021.

Unfortunately, a number of the sample sets shipped on Monday, 7 June, 2021, have not yet been delivered to the participants. We have contacted our logistics provider about the issue and have been informed, that they are dealing with an increased number of shipments. Additionally, they experienced issues with their software, but expressed that they were hopeful, that the delay caused by this should not exceed 24 hours. All participants in the proficiency test STRD0521 who have not yet received their sample set can however be assured that any influences on the analytical results arising from possible instabilities of the solutions will be accounted for in the performance assessment. For general information on the proficiency test, please refer to the following page: STRD0521.

Update 14.06.2021

Today, we have once more requested delivery services company to track the whereabouts of the parcels and will inform you of any news right away. Internally, we have discussed to wait until the end of this week and then try to re-ship the samples using a different logistics provider, if possible.

Some of the participants have also expressed concerns about the sample stability. We have conducted a short-term stability study and luckily the majority of the analytes does not show any significant instability, even when stored at room temperature for 28 days. Taking into account last week’s weather, we will also try to accommodate for any additional analyte loss due to the elevated temperatures. As the performance assessment will be conducted using consensus values, participant scores will not be influenced by a loss of analyte due to instability. We have also decided to prolong the deadline for the proficiency test due to the problems with the sample shipment. We have not determined a new date, yet but we will let you know right away.

Thank you for your understanding.

The samples for the proficiency test STRD0521 werde shipped on 07 June, 2021. All participants are asked to fill out the sample receipt form. The password has been provided via e-mail. Further information on the PT is available here.