Proficiency Testing Guide_[1]

PT Designation Tutorial_[2]

*The NYS Department of Health no longer provides proficiency testing samples, effective January 1, 2017. Notification_[3] of this change was sent to Laboratory Directors on July 22, 2016.* 

Proficiency Testing Requirements

Laboratories applying for or holding a New York State clinical laboratory permit must successfully participate in proficiency testing with a CMS-approved provider for all tests where proficiency testing is mandated by New York (refer to the Proficiency Testing Guide_[4]). The laboratory must inform the Department annually or upon addition of a new category of the survey and provider to be used to meet proficiency testing requirements. Annual notification is performed in eCLEP on the Health Commerce System during the late fall.  Instructions are provided above (see PT Designation Tutorial).  Laboratories are required to provide proficiency testing information when requesting to add new categories in eCLEP.  Please contact CLEP_[5] if you have any questions.

For tests/analytes that are not NYS-mandated, laboratories are required to have an alternate system for verifying the reliability and accuracy of their test results at least twice a year through participation in external proficiency testing programs or through the implementation of an internal proficiency testing program. Refer to Proficiency Testing Standard of Practice 3 (PT S3): Alternative to Proficiency Testing in the New York State Clinical Laboratory Standards of Practice_[6]._[7]

When external proficiency testing is used to satisfy PT S3, New York State Clinical Laboratory Standards of Practice for proficiency testing also apply.   

Should a laboratory perform unsatisfactorily for the entire permit category or for a test/analyte, the laboratory must investigate the cause of unsatisfactory performance and document the corrective action for review by the Department. The corrective action must be acceptable to the Department and performance in the subsequent test event must be satisfactory to meet proficiency requirements for the permit category. See PT Review and Performance_[8] for detailed information regarding unsatisfactory performance.

Proficiency Testing Requirements for New Permits or New Categories

Once a complete clinical laboratory permit application has been received and all other administrative requirements have been met, the laboratory will be placed into application for a NYS clinical laboratory permit. The laboratory must enroll in appropriate proficiency testing for any tests where participation is mandated by New York with a CMS-approved proficiency testing provider and inform the Department of its proficiency testing selections.

To be eligible for a NYS clinical laboratory permit or addition of a new category, the laboratory must perform successfully (i.e., receive passing scores) on proficiency testing. In addition, continued participation and satisfactory performance must be achieved to maintain fulfillment of proficiency testing requirements until all other permit requirements are met.