The process is fully automated with the participants entering their results online. Once all results are submitted, they are collated, analyzed and compared. Each participant then receives a tabular and graphical display of the results. A Youden plot showing the results from all centres is also provided with the specific positioning of the participating centre being shown in a contrasting colour. The results should lie within a target window (delineated by the 2,5 and 97,5 percentiles) determined from the median values of all participants who perform their analyses in full compliance with the WHO recommended methods. From the position of its results on the graph, each centre receives a ranking for each parameter. At the conclusion of every QuaDeGA trial run, each centre receives a certificate of participation.
The QuaDeGA programme and its experience over the first ten years are summarized in the following article:
- Mallidis C, Cooper TG, Hellenkemper B, Lablans M, Rückert F, Nieschlag E.
Ten years experience with an external quality control program for semen analysis. Fertility and Sterility 2012 Sep;98(3):611–616.e4.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22633256