Current News

2026-2027:

Microlearning Series – Tuesday 22 September 2026

Session 6 Title: External Quality Assessment for SARS-CoV-2 Sequencing

Time:  13:30–14:00 (BST – London)

Platform: Microsoft Teams (link provided to registered participants)

Cost: Free for all UK NEQAS Microbiology participants

Presented by: Sandra Romero, Genetic Technologist, GenQA

UK NEQAS for Microbiology is pleased to invite you to the sixth instalment in our free microlearning series, available exclusively to our registered participants. These concise, focused sessions are delivered via Microsoft Teams and are designed to support your professional development and enhance laboratory practices.

At UK NEQAS, we are committed to supporting continuous education and quality improvement. These microlearning sessions provide valuable insights, address current challenges, and reflect evolving trends in diagnostic microbiology.

Overview:  During the COVID-19 pandemic, laboratories rapidly introduced SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequencing to identify emerging variants, investigate outbreaks and support public health surveillance. With no established EQA available, GenQA and UK NEQAS for Microbiology developed a collaborative scheme modelled on GenQA’s existing human genome sequencing EQA. Initially delivered alongside the UK NEQAS molecular detection EQA, the scheme has evolved into a dedicated programme comprising four rounds per year, with samples selected to represent relevant circulating variants. Participants submit their sequencing results, which are assessed against a high-depth truth set generated by an international reference laboratory. Performance is assessed by comparing the submitted sequence with the expected results at both the viral lineage and variant-calling accuracy levels. Participants receive an individual laboratory report containing their assessment results, a summary report for benchmarking, and a nucleotide-by-nucleotide variant concordance analysis showing where their results agree with or differ from the truth set. This presentation will describe the development of the EQA and provide a practical overview of what participation involves, how results are assessed and how the scheme supports SARS-CoV-2 sequencing services.

Microlearning Series – Tuesday 14th July 2026

Fifth Session Title: ‘Holy moly! A case of domestically acquired cholera’

Date:  Tuesday 14 July 2026

Time: 14:30–15:30 (BST – London)

Platform: Microsoft Teams (link provided to registered participants)

Cost: Free for all UK NEQAS Microbiology participants

Presented by: Dr. Satheesh Nair, Gastrointestinal Bacteria Reference Unit, UK Health Security Agency

Overview:  Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 is the principal cause of cholera, a severe gastrointestinal disease, and remains responsible for ongoing global outbreaks. Although over 200 serogroups have been identified, only O1 and O139 are linked to epidemics, with O1 predominating. The classical biotype caused the first six pandemics, while the current seventh pandemic (7PET), initiated in the 1960s, is driven by the El Tor biotype, which exhibits enhanced transmissibility, pathogenicity, and increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) V. cholerae O1 within recent 7PET sublineages poses a growing public health challenge, reducing treatment effectiveness and complicating clinical management. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) surveillance conducted by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on isolates submitted to the Gastrointestinal Bacterial Reference Unit (GBRU) since 2019 highlights the burden of MDR strains linked to international travel, including high-risk regions such as the Middle East. In 2025, four travel-associated cholera cases were reported in England, including infections linked to imported holy water from Ethiopia.

Comprehensive genomic surveillance and characterization of extrachromosomal and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) carrying AMR determinants are essential to understand transmission dynamics and inform strategies to mitigate the global spread of resistant V. cholerae.

SAVE THE DATE!

UK NEQAS for Parasitology will be celebrating 40 YEARS of Excellence in Parasitology EQA by hosting its 40 Anniversary Symposium on 18 September 2026 at UK Health Security Agency, Colindale London. If you would like to attend, please click here to register and view agenda

SAVE THE DATE!

The UK NEQAS for Microbiology & Parasitology Annual Scientific Meeting will be taking place on 27th November 2026. Please click here for further details.

Microlearning Series – Wednesday 25th February 2026

Fourth Session Title: 'Parasite morphology: a dying art or still your best friend?'

Date:  Wednesday 25 February 2026

Time: 10:00–10:30 GMT (Greenwich Mean Time - London)

Platform: Microsoft Teams (link provided to registered participants)

Cost: Free for all UK NEQAS Microbiology participants

Presented by: Professor Peter L Chiodini, OBE. Scheme Organiser, UK NEQAS Parasitology / Director of the UKHSA Malaria Reference Laboratory

Title: UK NEQAS re-registration for April 2026-March 2027

Dear Participant,

GOING LIVE FROM 7 Jan 2026: You will be required to re-register online for UK NEQAS Microbiology EQA for April 2026 - March 2027 from 7 Jan 2026. (Participants served by a distributor will be contacted directly by the distributor for re-registering).

ONLINE FORMS FOR PARTICIPANTS NOT SERVED BY A DISTRIBUTOR (but including Sweden and Iceland participants):

Your 2026-27 online re-registration form will be accessible through the secure website login, using your existing username and password and selecting the yellow Re-registration button.

The form holds your current contact details, EQA schemes for which you are currently registered and invoicing information. Please complete/update and submit the form by 27 February 2026 (you will be able to amend forms multiple times up till that date). The final data that you have submitted by the deadline will then be sent directly to UK NEQAS Microbiology and will be the data we will hold of your EQA requirements for April 2026 - March 2027.

Please follow the instructions on the form to ensure your requirements for April 2026 to March 2027 are accurately recorded for each of the four sections:

Section 1 - Address and contact details

Section 2 - Scheme registrations

Section 3 – Invoice details

Section 4 – Authorisation

Once all requirements are finalised and submitted you shall see a confirmation log showing any updates and can be either saved or printed for your records. NB: During the re-registration period 07/01/26 to 27/02/26 we will only be able to undertake cancellation of participation (all schemes) and new participant requests. Any requests for participation changes will not be undertaken during this period (as we would expect participants to make these changes on the re-registration form).

Please find links below for useful information to help you prepare:

New EQA Schemes for 2026-27:

Microlearning Series – Tuesday 18th November 2025

Third Session Title: 'Fungal taxonomy and nomenclature:​ what's in a name and why does it matter?'

Date:  Tuesday 18 November 2025

Time: 14:00–14:30 GMT (Greenwich Mean Time - London)

Platform: Microsoft Teams (link provided to registered participants)

Cost: Free for all UK NEQAS Microbiology participants

Presented by: Prof Andy Borman, PhD FECMM FRCPath, Acting Head,  UKHSA National Mycology Reference Laboratory 

2025-26:

Dear Participants,

The UK NEQAS Microbiology and Parasitology webinar focusing on quality standards in point of care testing takes place on Wednesday 1st October 2025 with the following presentations -

Professor Peter L. Chiodini Malaria Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Tests, what a dipstick! With apologies to "Only Fools and Horses”

Dr Marit Orav Rapid testing of respiratory, gastrointestinal and sexually transmitted viruses: challenges and benefits

The link to register is here

With best wishes

The UK NEQAS for Microbiology and Parasitology teams

Dear participants,

Exciting news - the first session of a six-part pan-disciplinary webinar series Quality Standards in Point of Care Testing hosted by the UK NEQAS Consortium is happening on Wednesday 17th September 2025 – that’s next week! The speakers include representatives from UK NEQAS for Microbiology, UK NEQAS for Haematology, UK NEQAS for Clinical Chemistry and UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation.

The link to register is here

With best wishes

The UK NEQAS for Microbiology team

Microlearning Series – Wednesday 17th September 2025

Second Session Title: Continuous Improvement in Bacteriology: How UK NEQAS Responds to Evolving Diagnostics
Overview: This talk provides an overview of some of the recent changes UK NEQAS for Microbiology has made in its bacteriology schemes in response to evolving practices in clinical diagnostic labs. It touches on adjustments to reporting options, a gradual move towards more molecular approaches, and the introduction of a few new schemes to reflect current trends in diagnostics.

Date: Wednesday 17th September 2025

Time: 14:00–14:30 BST (British Summer Time – London)

Platform: Microsoft Teams

Cost: Free for all UK NEQAS Microbiology participants

Presented by: Dr Jennifer Henderson – Scheme Organiser, for Bacteriology & Mycology

New Microlearning Series – Launching 27 June 2025

  • UK NEQAS for Microbiology is excited to introduce a brand-new microlearning series, exclusively for our registered participants. These short, focused sessions delivered via Microsoft Teams are designed to support professional development and drive excellence in microbiology diagnostic testing.
  • 📅 First session: Performance Management of Laboratories Revisited
  • 🗣️ Presented by: Dr Sanjiv Rughooputh
  • 🕑 Date/Time: 27 June 2025, 14:00–14:30 BST
  • 👉 Look out for an email with full details. No registration needed—just click to join on the day
  • ⚠️ Please note: These sessions are not recorded and will not be available at another date.
  • SAVE THE DATE! The UK NEQAS for Microbiology & Parasitology Annual Scientific Meeting will be taking place on 28 November 2025. Please click here for further details.
  • UK NEQAS Microbiology Registration for April 2025 to March 2026
  • New Schemes for 2025-26:
  • Withdrawal of schemes: From the 2025/2026 financial year Diagnostic serology: hepatitis and Immunity screen EQA schemes will no longer be offered. These two EQA schemes will be replaced by four new EQA schemes: EBV detection, CMV detection, Hepatitis A detection and VZV serology:
    • EBV detection – this EQA will be distributed twice a year (7 April 2025 and 20 October 2025) with four serum specimens in each distribution. Participants will have the opportunity to report on overall EBV infection status, VCA IgM status, VCA IgG status, EBNA IgG status, heterophile Ab status, EA IgG status and EBV DNA status. Each analyte will be scored separately.
    • CMV detection – this EQA will be distributed twice a year (7 April 2025 and 20 October 2025) with four serum specimens in each distribution. Participants will have the opportunity to report on CMV IgM status, CMV IgG avidity, CMV IgG status and CMV DNA status. Each analyte will be scored separately.
    • Hepatitis A detection (HT) – this EQA will be distributed twice a year (7 April 2025 and 20 October 2025) with four serum specimens in each distribution. Participants will have the opportunity to report on HAV IgM status, HAV IgG/total Ab status and HAV RNA status. Each analyte will be scored separately.
    • VZV serology (VZ) – this EQA will be distributed twice a year (30 June 2025 and 5 January 2026) with four serum specimens in each distribution. Participants will have the opportunity to report on VZV IgG qualitative and quantitative detection. Scoring will be based on the qualitative detection of VZV IgG with the quantitative results presented on the report.

2024-25:

2023-24:

New Schemes and Changes for 2022-23: