Proficiency tests for laboratories: a systematic review

Abstract

Laboratories analytical results must be reliable. Proficiency tests (PT) main objective is to provide independent demonstrations of laboratory competence. The demand for these activities is increasing on the world scenario, as well as its importance. The main objective of this study is to identify the important publications of the PT theme from 2005 to 2012 based on a systematic review procedure. The method proposed reached a total of 113 papers published in indexed journals and another 34 additional references, including standards, guidelines and recommendations of international or regional accreditation body cooperation, international standards organization and international metrological institutes. All selected references were clustered based on its approach, and then the main practices were presented. The approaches identified were related to performance assessment, calculation method for performance assessment, use of PT for validation and/or estimation of measurement uncertainty and management of PT. Results indicate some opportunities to develop researches, such as: project management related to PT, the importance of analyses of data probability distribution function when consensus value is used, criteria to select the parameter to homogeneity and stability tests and to explore the link between PT, method validation and measurement uncertainty, among others.