The molecular pathology colorectal carcinoma (CRC) EQA survey will be an end-to-end proficiency testing challenge, designed to assess a health system’s ability to produce clinically useable information from archival patient samples to support precision cancer care. The survey will include technical proficiency for methods such as NGS, PCR, FISH, and IHC. The focus of the exercise will be on the system itself, and the ability of a laboratory participant to navigate a specimen through multiple testing modalities then coordinate and report results in a timely and clinically-relevant fashion.

Each participating laboratory will receive mock cases in the form of an FFPE block and clinical vignette. The FFPE blocks will contain CRC tissue, the vignettes are fictitious, and will be prepared by the CPQA-AQCP to include fictitious demographic material and clinical histories. Upon receipt, laboratories are asked to handle these specimens as if they were referred-in clinical material. This includes accessioning as per typical protocol, triaging for various tests, performing these tests, and reporting in the typical manner. Laboratories may utilize any test deemed appropriate for the vignette. This exercise is not limited to any particular modality. Laboratory participants are encouraged to utilize multiple modalities, services, and laboratorians, as required.

Assessment of submitted results will include evaluation of accuracy, timeliness, understandability, and associated systemic therapy decisions.