This report summarizes the 2020 survey results of the external quality assessment (EQA) scheme for the Transfusion Medicine Program (TMP) in Korea. Proficiency testing materials were prepared at Asan Medical Center for biannual distribution to the participating laboratories. The accuracy rates and number of participants for the 10 survey items were as follows: ABO typing, 99.6%–99.9% (n=890/897); RhD typing, 99.7%–100.0% (n=877/885); crossmatching, 94.0%–99.1% (n=771/780); ABO subgroup typing, 95.2%–98.4% (n=62/63); Rh CcEe antigen, 100% (n=56/58); weak D test, 92.8%–98.4% (n=250/252); antibody screening, 99.7%–100.0% (n=327/329); direct antiglobulin test (DAT) using a polyspecific reagent, 97.2%–99.7% (n=283/286); DAT using anti-immunoglobulin-G monospecific reagent, 88.7%–100.0% (n=71/71); DAT using anti-C3d monospecific reagent, 97.2%–100.0% (n=70/72); antibody identification, 68.9%–100% (n=135/135); and ABO antibody titration, 94.3%–100.0% (n=140/142). As compared to last year’s EQA report, there was an average increase of 5.1% in the number of participating laboratories across the 10 survey items, with the ABO subgroup typing and weak D test showing the highest increase of 8.6%. Although the overall results were excellent, only 68.9% of the participants precisely detected samples with anti-C and anti-e in the EQA conducted in the first half of 2020. The 2020 EQA scheme for TMP has contributed to the improvement and maintenance of the participating laboratories in the program.

Keywords: Transfusion medicine, Quality improvement, Laboratory proficiency testing