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PROLab™
Software for PT programs and collaborative studies
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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).
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).
PROLab™ is synonymous with comprehensive quality and accuracy for your interlaboratory study. It is continuously being further developed and subjected to extensive validation processes. With respect to the statistical evaluation of the data, PROLab™ follows the computational prescriptions in the important standards listed below.
Versions
PROLab™ Smart
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:
1. Define your study: participants, analytes, samples…
2. Import or enter measurement results
3. Visually compelling charts and tables are automatically generated
PROLab™ Standard
For evaluation acc. to ISO 13528 and ISO 5725-2.
The recommended software package for regular PT schemes and validation studies.
PROLab™ Plus
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.
Comparison of versions
A table of features is shown below. Printable material can be found in our software flyers and data sheets.
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PROLab™ Smart for |
PROLab™ Smart for ISO 5725-2 |
PROLab™ Standard |
PROLab™ Plus |
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Intuitive user interface |
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Flexible data import |
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Analysis acc. to ISO 13528 |
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Analysis acc. to ISO 5725-2 |
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Homogeneity and stability test acc. to ISO 13528 and Harmonized Protocol |
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Equivalence Testing |
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Fulfills requirements |
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Customizable reports |
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Built-in data collection tool (RingDat) |
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Free technical and statistical support |
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Workshops at favorable conditions |
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Display of analytical methods |
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Tools for the performance assessment |
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ISO 5725:3, ISO 5725:5, |
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Kernel density estimations |
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Principal Component Analysis, HORRAT Analysis |
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Statistics
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
- Zu-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)
Test on homogeneity
PROLab allows the performance of a homogeneity test according to the following criteria:
1. ISO 13528
2. Harmonized Protocol (IUPAC, 2006)
Evaluations across samples and tests
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
Equivalence of analytical methods
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 13528
Alongside 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 Analysis
The 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 tests
With 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.
Data Management
With PROLab, data entry and management is both easy and flexible.
This is no trifling matter, considering the complexity and diversity of the data involved:
- reference and measurement values and their uncertainties
- limits such as LOD and LOQ and handling of values outside such bounds
- measurement uncertainties
- sample preparations, analytical methods and their categorizations
- designations and categorizations of samples, measurands and laboratories
- permanent and non-permanent lab codes, lab-specific sample codes
- multiple options for assigned value and target standard deviation
- etc...
Data entry is possible by means of a flexible data import module,
for example from Excel files.
There is a configurable data input module called
RingDat, which is provided
with the program and which can be used by the participating labs free of cost.
All data can be exported in different file formats.
The selection of data for evaluation and presentation of results takes place with a powerful selection module by means of which various selection modes can be set and even saved as you require.
The data management of PROLab fulfills the requirements of
Reports and Charts
All evaluation results can be displayed via editable reports (a powerful report generator is also supplied) and numerous special charts.
Furthermore, it is possible to export data and evaluation results in the following formats:
- Adobe PDF
- RTF (Microsoft Word, OpenOffice etc.)
- HTML for web sites
- Unformatted text for further processing
- WMF (Windows Meta File), BMP (Bitmap), SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
