This proficiency test is tailored for effect-based in vitro bioassays intended for the determination of hormonal activity in water, food and environmental samples.
All procedures in the interlaboratory trial are in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17043:2023.
Timeline
- Early Bird Registration by *: May 31, 2026
- Registration by: September 30, 2026
- Samples dispatch by: calender week 49 (November 30 - December 4, 2026)
- Results submitted by: January 31, 2027
* Benefit from an early bird registration discount of 10%.
Registration is binding. Participation cannot be cancelled once QD Labs LP has received the registration.
Intended laboratories/participants for this interlaboratory trial:
- ISO/IEC 17025–accredited laboratories conducting effect-based bioassays to determine hormonal activity
- Public and regulatory laboratories using effect-based bioassays to assess environmental water quality under the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD)
- Academic and R&D laboratories seeking to implement external quality assurance within their measurement programs
- Laboratories employing planar assays to evaluate hormonal effects
Parameters and samples covered within this interlaboratory trial:
- Determination of estrogenicity
- Sample concentrate E1: Water for human consumption spiked with an estrogen, final concentration after dilution: 0.2 – 0.5 ng EEQ* in 1 liter
- Sample concentrate E2: Artificial surface water spiked with a mix of estrogens, final concentration after dilution: 1 – 10 ng EEQ* in 1 liter
- Sample concentrate E3: Liquid extract from food, spiked with estrogen disruptors e.g. mycotoxins or bisphenols, final concentration after dilution: ca. 20 ng EEQ* in 1 liter
- Determination of androgenicity
- Sample concentrate A1: Artificial surface water spiked with a mix of androgens, final concentration after dilution: 5 – 50 ng DHTEQ* in 1 liter
- Sample concentrate A2: Liquid extract from food, spiked with androgen disruptors, final concentration after dilution: ca. 50 ng DHTEQ* in 1 liter
- Determination of progestagenicity
- Sample concentrate P1: Artificial surface water spiked with a mix of gestagens, final concentration after dilution: ca. 5 – 50 ng PEQ* in 1 liter
- Sample concentrate P2: Liquid extract from food, spiked with gestagen disruptors, final concentration after dilution: ca. 50 ng PEQ* in 1 liter
- New: Determination of thyroid receptor mediated acivity
- Sample concentrate T1: Liquid soil extract spiked with a mix of thyroid receptor agonists, final concentration after dilution: ca. 20 µg T3EQ* in 1 liter
* Expected hormonal equivalent concentration refers to the assessment with common effect-based yeast assays!
We reserve the right to exclude samples from the interlaboratory trial if the minimum required number of participants for the respective samples is not met.
Notes on concentrates:
- Concentrates representing water samples: Dilution to the final volume of 1 liter must be accomplished by the laboratory. The laboratory decides if an enrichment procedure should be applied, e.g., SPE.
- Concentrates representing soil or food samples are provided as extracts in organic solvent. The laboratory has to evaporate the solvent with an appropriate method. The dried extract has to be dissolved in a biocompatible solvent according to the laboratory’s method.
If you have any questions about this interlaboratory trial, please contact us via email:
pt@qd-labs.com
