Using the App

EQA Investigation Training

Premium tool. Open from /training-dashboard → EQA Investigation card (the dashboard uses the short label, without the "Training" suffix), or directly at /eqa-investigation-training.

UK NEQAS performance failures must be investigated and documented under ISO 15189:2022. This simulator drills the end-to-end process — from receiving the unsatisfactory report to closing the CAPA.

What it does

• Presents a simulated UK NEQAS performance report with a flagged result
• Asks you to apply the three-stage investigation: confirm the failure, identify root cause, plan corrective action
• Scores the corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) you write in the CAPA tab
• Walks you through communication — who you tell internally, when you contact NEQAS, when you involve UKAS
• Ends with an assessment and a PDF certificate when you pass

EQA failure types covered

• Single occurrence — one outlier in a generally-performing run
• Persistent poor performance — repeated outliers in the same scheme
• Systematic bias — consistent over/under-recovery suggesting calibration drift
• Comparator method discrepancy — your result is correct but disagrees with the peer group
• Scheme suspension — what to do when NEQAS suspends your participation

Root-cause analysis

The investigation content uses the same approach as the dedicated Root Cause Analysis Simulator: a 5-whys cause chain and a Fishbone / Ishikawa breakdown (people, method, equipment, environment, materials, measurement). Use the Root Cause Analysis Simulator itself when you want to practise those tools step by step.

Documentation covered

The teaching content explains what your laboratory's own records must contain:

• Non-conformance record — short form for minor events
• CAPA report (Corrective and Preventive Action) — formal for repeat or significant events
• UKAS communication — if accreditation is affected
• Internal communication — section head, quality lead, line manager, lab director

The simulator scores the CAPA you draft; it does not generate the documents for you.

Standards alignment

• ISO 15189:2022 clause 7.3.7 — EQA participation
• UK NEQAS Scheme Specific Operating Procedures (your scheme's current handbook)
• UKAS TPS 70 — pathology accreditation requirements
• MHRA for IVD-regulated devices that fail
• NHS England Pathology Quality Assurance framework

Bands and competency mapping

• Band 5 — recognise EQA failures, document, escalate
• Band 6 — lead the investigation, write the CAPA, communicate
• Band 7 — service-wide CAPA strategy, repeat-failure prevention, present at management review

Cite completed investigations, and the certificate, in your IBMS Specialist Portfolio quality evidence.

Pairs well with

• Root Cause Analysis Simulator — the underlying technique
• SOP Writing Simulator (article 43) — what often comes out of a CAPA
• UKAS Audit Training (article 44) — how external audit interacts with EQA

Common interview question themes

• "Walk me through how you would respond to a UK NEQAS unsatisfactory result"
• "What's the difference between a corrective and a preventive action?"
• "How do you close a CAPA — what evidence does UKAS expect?"
• "Tell me about a real EQA investigation you contributed to"