EQA schemes 2013 and 2014
for the determination of tumor biological parameters
in breast cancer in pathology

In 2013 and 2014, a total of 236 pathologies took part in the traditional EQA schemes "Estrogen, progesterone and/or HER2 receptor determination as well as the determination of Ki67 in breast cancer" of the Quality Assurance Initiative Pathology (QuiP). Of these, an average of 160 pathologies took part in the EQA schemes for the determination of steroid hormone receptors (ER and PR), while up to 192 pathologies took part in the HER2/neu immunohistochemistry EQA scheme. Up to 106 pathologies participated in the HER2/neu In-Situ Hybridization EQA scheme. Participation in the EQA scheme to determine proliferation using immunohistochemical detection of Ki67 has increased significantly in the last two years. In 2014, a total of 142 pathologies took part in the Ki67 EQA scheme.

Over 94% of participants successfully passed the ER and Ki67 EQA schemes. The EQA schemes PR and HER2/neu-ISH were successfully completed by more than 97% of participants. The success rate for the HER2/neu-Immunohistochemistry EQA scheme was around 89%.

In the following lists "successful participation", all pathologies are listed by name, in alphabetical order by location, which participated with a positive result in the traditional breast EQA schemes for estrogen receptor (list 1), progesterone receptor (list 2), HER2 receptor (list 3) or Ki67 determination (list 4) as well as "in-situ hybridization for the determination of the HER2 amplification level" (list 5) and gave their consent for publication. Pathologies and Institutes that have not consented to publication by name are not included in the lists. Similarly, pathologies and Institutes that have successfully participated in other quality assurance measures, such as proficiency testing for the determination of hormone receptors in breast cancer by other organizations/initiatives, e.g. in other countries, are not included in the following lists.

Links to the lists:

Estrogen receptor determination in breast cancer

Progesterone receptor determination in breast carcinoma

Her2 receptor determination in breast carcinoma

Ki-67 determination

In-situ hybridization to determine the degree of Her2 amplification in breast carcinoma