*
 

FAQ

FAQ

General

[top]

Is the SKML a commercial organisation?

No! The SKML is a non-profit foundation. Any financial surplus is used for the benefit of research, improvement in the quality of schemes, decreasing participants' subscription fees and/or will be used for reserve funds.
The SKML is registered with the Chamber of Commerce in the business registry under number 41055610.
For more information, click here: https://www.skml.nl/en/home/organisation/about-us

[top]

Are SKML samples CE marked?

CE marking stands for Conformité Européenne, and implies: complient to European regulation. For reagents and instruments in medical laboratories this refers to the IVD regulation. Regulations, which is not applicable to EQAS samples, which like patient samples do not need CE marking, since the application for such marking would require more time than the shelff life of these samples

[top]

Is the SKML accredited?

The SKML has a quality system based on ISO/IEC 17043:2010 and obtained accreditation for a number of schemes since March 17, 2022 (under registration number R023 at the Dutch Accreditation Council). It is indicated when a scheme belongs to the scope of accreditation of the SKML according to ISO/IEC 17043:2010, which can be found on our website under Schemes.

[top]

As a participant, I have a questionnaire in the context of supplier assessment in accordance with my own quality management system. Would you like to complete this questionnaire and answer the questions?

We receive such requests more often, but we do not have the capacity to complete all of these questionnaires from our participants. You may be able to find the answers on our website and in the SKML General Terms and Conditions, which can be found on the website as well.

We work according to ISO/IEC 17043:2010 and have obtained accreditation for a number of schemes since March 17, 2022 (under registration number R023 at the Dutch Accreditation Council). It is indicated when a scheme belongs to the scope of accreditation of the SKML according to ISO/IEC 17043:2010, which can be found on our website under Schemes.

[top]

Are suppliers allowed to participate?

- Yes, suppliers are allowed to participate as any other participant and will receive samples and reports
- If a participant does not intend to send in results, and only participates in order to receive reports, the participant can indicate that no samples are needed. This is better for the environmental sustainability, but does not result in discount

[top]

Where can I find your terms of delivery?

You can find our terms of delivery at the bottom of our home page, or click here

[top]

Can I order new samples?

Ordering of new samples (after reporting), can only be done for payment and only per round set or annual set. An individual sample can be delivered free of charge, only if an incidental cause is required for proper participation.

[top]

How can I apply for participation, and how do I end it?

Once you have been registered as SKML participant, you can apply for participation using our Qbase software. Also you can apply on the website under "schemes". Application is possible all year and will be billed for the complete year, regardless of missed rounds.
Termination of participation must be communicated with our office before November 1st of the previous year. Every year in September we send you an overview with your current participations and request to communicate all change requests.

[top]

How can I register as a new participant?

You can find information of registration here

[top]

I have a different question

You can contact us at: office@skml.nl

[top]

Application and Finance

[top]

How many contacts can I register?

For every scheme you can register 6 different contact persons (names + email addresses), 3 of which have Qbase access.
We recommend to register several people. This is to ensure that important information is reached in case of absence of contacts.

Contact Description Competence Qbase
Name on report: Name on reports + emailaddresses to send information to Validate results + access to the schemes
Send report to: Email address to send reports to No access
Send samples to: Address to send samples + emailaddress to send information to Access to the schemes
Contact person for SKML Contactperson to annually send subscription overview to Access to the schemes
Send invoice to: Contact person to send invoice to No access
Send proof of subscription to: Contact person to send proof of subscription to No access

[top]

How do I change a contact?

- please contact: office@skml.nl
- Provide for every contact role name and other contact specifications (title, initials, name, gender, email address, phone number)
- New contacts will receive a new login name and password

[top]

How does SKML bill me?

The SKML sends out invoices annually, approximately in the third week of April.
Also when you start your participation after the start of the year, you will be charged for a complete year.
This also applies to other products and services.
The deadline for payment is 30 days.

[top]

Can I receive a correction of an invoice?

Yes, that is possible, but charges apply. We advise you to provide all information that you request on your invoice at forehand.
If we have to correct an invoice with information that you have neglected to communicate at the stage of purchase or annual confirmation, we will charge € 50 per invoice.

[top]

Where do I find the SKML banking numbers?

You can find our financial contact information here

[top]

What is the price of the schemes?

You can find prices here

[top]

Scheme logisitics

[top]

Where do I find start and deadlines for the schemes?

All important dates can be found in Qbase (Menu- File- Agenda) or at our website at:
www.skml.nl/en/schemes/agenda

[top]

QBase

[top]

I cannot find a scheme in which I participate in QBase

Probably, you lack authorization because you are not registered as a contact for a scheme. You can find our who in your organisation is a contact in QBase: File - Participation Overview.
Only the roles report receiver, sample receiver and SKML contact have QBase access for the particular scheme

[top]

I cannot enter results in QBase. What's wrong?

- The ultimate response time has passed
- You did not create a cluster yet. For every measurand you nedd to define at least one cluster. You can create a cluster in QBase by choosing the pocket knife - hammer - add instrument + method + unit
- QBase has been blocked due to late payment
- The relevant round has not yet been released by the supervisor

[top]

Is it possible to enter results after the deadline?

No, as soon as the closing date has passed, the process of report creation starts automatically.

[top]

QBase has an option to validate results. Is it mandatory to validate results?

Validation is not essential. After validation results cannot be altered. The option is created to allow for protection against unintended changes. Only the contact person whose name is registrated on the report is allowed to validate results.

[top]

How do I define a cluster?

First of all: add a new cluster (button with the green + sign) (available 14 days before start-date)
Next: select the QBase settings screen for a particular measurand by clicking the pocket knife icon and fill out the requested information on instrument, method and unit.
Mandatory fields are indicated. As soon as all mandatory fields are filled out and saved (blue arrow), a green checkmark will be displayed next to the measurand.
Only these measurands appear on the result entry screen.

[top]

Is a license required for the use of QBase?

Licensed use of QBase is a part of participation in a SKML scheme. QBase remains accessible until one year after discontinuation of your participation.
See the QBase page for more information.

[top]

Where do I find archived documents in QBase?

- Select the round of a scheme for which you are looking for documents
- Right click and choose "archive"
- Select the document of interest for download
- SKML only archives to last two years

[top]

How do I download a new version of QBase?

See the QBase page for more information

[top]

I can't log on into QBase? Why is that?

- Click on "details"on the error message. There you will find detailed information what is the cause of not beying able to log in.
- You are using an expired version of QBase
- You are using an invalid login name and/or password. Contact SKML at office@skml.nl or by phone to find out the correct login

[top]

Reports

[top]

Why is my summary page empty?

You did not define any cluster

[top]

The reports only consists of a title page

You did not define any cluster

[top]

Can I request more statistics than presented in the report?

- Statistics on other methods and instruments is available through QBase. Right click a round of the scheme
- Choose "statistics (extended)"
- A screen "statistics (extended)" becomes available

Some options are only available after the checkmark "all measurands" has been unchecked and a measurand has been chosen.

[top]

Are historical reports available through QBase?

- QBase archives historical reports for 2 years
- Choose program options from menu item "file"
- Choose "program settings"
- Go to tab "Horizon" and set time horizon to 2 years
- Switch back to standard horizon for optimal performance

[top]

Can I request a report if I have not entered any measurement results?

With our QBase program you can enter your measurement results and save them in our database. You will receive the standard report as it is issued after each round.
If your lab was not able to enter any results, then you can automatically receive such a report by creating a cluster before the closing date of the relevant round and activating the analytes that you want to see on the report.

[top]

When I compare the overview page of reports for different clusters for the same analyte, I notice that the reference value can differ between clusters.Isn't the reference value the same for all methods by definition?

The mean of the reference value of several samples can differ when outliers occur. For those samples that remarked as outlier, also the reference value is left out of calculation in order to make the reference value comparable with the own mean.

[top]

All my samples appear to be in the applicable tolerance area of the difference plot, and yet I get no points?

The residuals of your individual samples around the regression line define you within lab imprecision which is depicted as yellow bars on every sample point. You earn one point when the inside (2 sd) of that bar is within the tolerance area and two points when also the outside (4.5 sd) is within the limits.

[top]

After correction for a bias our datapoints are more close to the reference values, but instead of an improved score, our new points are marked as outliers?

The difference plot illustrates that your intervention indeed was succesful. The fact that the point is marked as an outlier is caused by the double outlier approach.
Not only points with large deviation from the true values, but also points with large deviation from the own long term regression are marked as outlier.
When more new points after the bias correction become availabele, the new points will no longer be marked as outlier.

[top]

printer icoon-a-klein icoon-a-groot icoon-vlag-engels icoon-vlag-nederlands