Broad principles underpinning the Edinburgh schemes are described in a recent review. More detailed information is available in the Participants’ Handbook, which includes examples of reports. Brief surveys of recent relevant literature are also provided. Results can be submitted electronically on the web by registered participants with a UK NEQAS password (obtainable from the centre) or by fax. Monthly reports, Annual Reviews of scientific data, Survey reports and other information can also be accessed via the same website.

Schemes provided are listed in the table below. Dates of specimen dispatch are detailed in our Distribution Schedule 2023. Participants can join the schemes at any time of year, with charges made pro rata for the remainder of the financial year. A price list is available on request.

Scheme	Analyte(s)	Specimens per distribution	Registration form
Peptide I	Luteinising hormone (LH) Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) Prolactin	4 or 5, liquid serum, monthly – specimens contain all 4 analytes
	Growth hormone	4, liquid serum, monthly
Peptide II	Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)	3, freeze-dried plasma, bimonthly
	Parathyroid hormone (PTH)	3, freeze-dried plasma, bimonthly
	Calcitonin (hCT)	3, freeze-dried plasma, bimonthly
Tumour markers	α-Fetoprotein (AFP) Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)	4, liquid serum, monthly – specimens contain all 3 analytes
Pregnancy testing	hCG	2, liquid urine, monthly
Maternal serum screening	Neural tube defects (AFP) AFP AFP multiples of the median (MoMs) Risk of NTD Recommendation for follow-up (NTD)	3, liquid serum, monthly
	1st trimester Down’s syndrome (serum) Free beta-subunit of hCG (hCGβ) hCGβ MoMs Pregnancy associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) PAPP-A MoMs Risk of Down’s syndrome (at sampling or at term, biochemistry ± nuchal translucency) Recommendation for follow-up	3, liquid serum, monthly
	1st trimester Down’s syndrome (dried blood spots) – Pilot scheme hCGβ hCGβ MoMs PAPP-A PAPP-A MoMs Risk of Down’s syndrome (at sampling or at term, biochemistry ± nuchal translucency) Recommendation for follow-up	5, dried blood spots, monthly	Contact centre
	2nd trimester Down’s syndrome (serum) AFP AFP MoMs hCG / hCGβ hCG / hCGβ MoMs Unconjugated oestriol (uE3) Inhibin A Inhibin A MoMs Risk of Down’s Syndrome (at sampling or at term) Software & version	3, liquid serum, monthly
Pilot schemes	Pre-eclampsia markers (serum and EDTA plasma) – Pilot scheme PlGF sFlt-1 sFlt-1 to PLGF ratio	3, liquid serum, monthly
	Liver fibrosis markers (serum) – Pilot scheme PIINP Hyaluronic acid TIMP-1 ELF score Other liver fibrosis scores	3, liquid serum, monthly