Information on the EQA test Liquid Biopsy
The aim of this EQA test is to offer an external quality assurance measure for NGS analyses that covers the requirements of RiliBÄK 2023. The interlaboratory tests cover the laboratory procedure, variant prioritization and classification, report generation, and interpretation. Cases with annually changing clinical pictures will be offered. In addition to the hotspot variants mentioned in RiliBÄK, we will also offer participants the opportunity to analyze known pathogenic but rarer variants in the relevant genes.
The EQA test comprises 3 independent sets of test items:
Set 1: a cfDNA sample in artificial plasma (NSCLC - EGFR)
Set 2: a cfDNA sample in artificial plasma (NSCLC - BRAF, KRAS, NRAS)
Set 3: a cfDNA sample in artificial plasma (breast cancer - ESR1, and PIK3CA)
The plasma samples will be sent by mail or courier service, depending on the destination. Further information (tasks, criteria, etc.) will be available for download. A brief medical history will be provided.
Set 1: a cfDNA sample in artificial plasma (NSCLC - EGFR)
Set 2: a cfDNA sample in artificial plasma (NSCLC - BRAF, KRAS, NRAS)
Set 3: a cfDNA sample in artificial plasma (breast cancer - ESR1, and PIK3CA)
The plasma samples will be sent by mail or courier service, depending on the destination. Further information (tasks, criteria, etc.) will be available for download. A brief medical history will be provided.
The laboratories should treat the samples as diagnostic cases, process them using their ctDNA detection workflow, and prepare a findings report.
For this EQA test, participants will receive a certificate from the BVDH e. V. for the sets they have completed upon successful participation; in the case of successful participation in Set 1/Set 2, this will include the RiliBÄK supplement. The certificate is valid for two years.
EQA test supervisor
Dr. Ariane Hallermayr
MGZ - Medizinisch Genetisches Zentrum
Bayerstraße 3-5
80335 München
MGZ - Medizinisch Genetisches Zentrum
Bayerstraße 3-5
80335 München
Dr. rer. nat. Marco Graf
ÜBAG MVZ Dr. Eberhard & Partner Dortmund
Brauhausstraße 4
44137 Dortmund
If you would like to contact the EQA test supervisor(s), please call or e-mail the Coordination Office QA of BVDH:
Phone: +49 2403 83 80 54
E-mail: brandt@bvdh.de
Status as of: November/2025