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PROLab - Software for PT Programs and Collaborative Studies
PROLab is a software family for planning, organizing, performing and analyzing interlaboratory tests - that is, for both proficiency tests assessing the performance of laboratories (typically acc. to ISO 13528) and collaborative studies for the validation of analytical methods (typically acc. to ISO 5725: 1-6). Our PROLab Flyer provides an overview of this software.
In particular, PROLab™ provides all necessary features to meet the requirements of ISO 17043 on quality management and quality assurance for proficiency testing providers.
PROLab™ is used and recommended by some of the most important PT providers worldwide, such as:
- the US Food and Drug Administration,
- the Joint Research Center of the European Commission,
- the UK Health and Safety Laboratories and
- the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL)
- the Integrated BioBank of Luxembourg (IBBL) which makes use of our online data entry tool.
It is also used in company-wide quality assurance programs such as at AngloAmerican.
If you are interested in L-Scores for qualitative data, please get in touch with us.
PROLab™ is synonymous with comprehensive quality and accuracy of interlaboratory studies. The validation process includes both automated and manual testing to ensure that reports, computations and display of charts are done so correctly. With respect to the statistical evaluation of data, PROLab™ conforms to all computational requirements outlined in the standards listed below.
PROLab™ Smart (open leaflet)
For evaluation acc. to either ISO 13528 or ISO 5725-2.
Analysing your PT or method validation data has never been easier. Obtain your results in three easy steps:
- Define your study: participants, analytes, samples…
- Import or enter measurement results
- Visually compelling charts and tables are automatically generated
PROLab™ Standard (open leaflet)
For evaluation acc. to ISO 13528 and ISO 5725-2.
The recommended software package for regular PT schemes and validation studies.
PROLab™ Plus (open leaflet)
Evaluation acc. to ISO 13528, ISO 5725-2 and further international standards.
Provides all available features. Very flexible and sophisticated report generation and charting capabilities. Used for frequent or fairly complicated PT and validation schemes.
PROLab`s conception rests on the methods described in the relevant international standards and on highly advanced mathematical-statistical tools. Statistical evaluations in PROLab are performed in accordance with the following computational standards:
- ISO 13528/ISO 5725-5 (the so-called "A+S algorithm")
- ISO 5725-2 for method validation studies
- DIN 38402 A42
- DIN 38402 A45 (Q/Hampel)
- Swiss Food Manual
- Q/Huber method
- Adaptive Horwitz function
- ISO 5725-3 for nested PT designs
The following evaluation criteria are made available for laboratory assessments:
- Z-Scores (also called SDI or standard deviation index)
- Zu-Scores (ISO/TS 20612:2007)
- En scores
- Zeta-Scores
- Z`-Scores
- SSZ (Sum of Squared Z-Scores from the Harmonized Protocol)
- RLP (Relative Laboratory Performance)
- RSZ (Rescaled Sum of Z-Scores)
- L-Scores for qualitative data are included in a special version of PROLab. Get in touch with us for more.
PROLab allows the performance of a homogeneity test according to the following criteria:
- ISO 13528
- Harmonized Protocol (IUPAC, 2006)
Following evaluation options are available in PROLab:
- Z-score histograms for the visualization of trends, with options to evaluate the results across samples, laboratories, tests or measurands
- Kernel density estimation: standardization allows the distribution of measurement values for various samples to be visualized
- Visualization of performance over time: follow the performance quality of selected laboratories over several interlaboratory studies, with options to restrict the results under consideration to those of a single or a combination of samples and measurands
In addition, PROLab contains a module for testing the equivalence of measurement methods based on a new approach which circumvents the problems inherent in using data from proficiency tests for methods equivalence testing.
Dispersion display according to ISO 13528Alongside the mean value, the within-laboratory standard deviation can also be considered for the assessment of laboratory performance. Accordingly, this feature provides a graphical display of both mean values and standard deviations, along with their statistical confidence intervals.
Kernel density estimation according to the Harmonized Protocol (IUPAC, 2006)Using the so-called kernel density estimator, the density function for the distribution of the results from one selected measurand-sample-combination can be estimated. This is particularly interesting when the distribution of the measurement values differs significantly from the normal distribution. The results distribution can be displayed for all laboratories or for one selected laboratory.
HORRAT AnalysisThe HORRAT trend is used to investigate the across-tests dependency of the reproducibility standard deviation on analyte concentration.
This includes a display of the HORRAT (Horwitz Ratio) values, i.e. the ratio of the empirical and the classical Horwitz standard deviations. Here as well, it is possible to choose between carrying out the analysis for one single or for all measurands.
Analysis of nested interlaboratory testsWith PROLab Plus, it is possible to perform the analysis of nested interlaboratory tests according to ISO 5725-3, with e.g. 2 times 3 measurements under different conditions (e.g. 3 replicates on 2 different days or by 2 different technicians).
This analysis yields the so-called intermediate standard deviation which usually lies somewhere between the repeatability and the reproducibility standard deviations. The intermediate standard deviation describes the within-laboratory standard deviation when the conditions of measurement are not held constant.