An EQA-Scheme (also known as an external quality assessment) is a standardised external test procedure for assessing laboratory performance.

Several independent laboratories receive identical samples, analyse them under routine conditions and transmit the results to the EQA-Scheme provider.

The submitted data is statistically analysed and compared. This makes it possible to objectively assess whether a laboratory provides correct, reproducible and comparable measurement results.

EQA-Schemes are used in many areas – including analytical chemistry, medical diagnostics, environmental, food and material analysis.