HISTORY OF KEQAS
External quality assessment (EQA) is a widely accepted method for evaluating clinical laboratories and enhancing their testing
quality. The Korean Association of External Quality Assessment Service (KEQAS) has been the leading, authorized EQA institute for
the standardization and quality management of laboratory testing in Korean medical institutions since 1976.
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1976
08 “The Korean Society of Quality Control in Clinical Pathology” was founded
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1979
07 Official Journal “Journal of Clinical Pathology and Quality” first issue published
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1982
03 Joined as a Member of “Korean Foundation of Science & Technology Societies”
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1986
09 Joined as a Member of “Korean Academy of Medical Science(KAMS)”
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1991
09 Approved as a Corporation by the Korean Ministry of Health & Welfare(KMHW)
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1992
01 Newsletter “Clinical Testing and Quality Assurance” first issue published
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1999
07 Approved as Certification Authority for Consignment Institution by the KMHW
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2001
12 The No of participating Labs for KEQAS Proficiency Testing exceeded 500
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2002
11 Change of Journal Name to “Journal of Laboratory Medicine & Quality Assurance”
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2006
09 New Integrated Web Portal; Homepage was launched
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2007
03 Won the Medical Society of Excellence award from KAMS
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2009
12 The No of Participating Labs for KEQAS Proficiency Testing exceeded 1,000
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2013
03 “Journal of Laboratory Medicine and Quality Assurance” published Quarterly
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2014
05 Joined the KFSTS as a Public Organization
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2015
01 Change the name KAQACL to KEQAS
03 Won the Medical Society of Grand Prize from KAMS
08 Obtained ISO 17043 (PT Provider) Qualification from Korean Laboratory Accreditation Scheme
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2016
01 Launched the KEQAS’ nest-generation proficiency testing program
Introduced new Information & Logistics systems for next-generation PT program
02 The No of participating Labs for KEQAS Proficiency Testing exceeded 1,500
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2020
10 KEQAS’ EQA Service; 70 programs with 340 test items & 1,834 participants
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2023
KEQAS’ EQA Service; 92 programs covering more the 494 test items