In the United Kingdom the national quality assessment scheme (NEQAS) in haematology organizes regular surveys for blood counts, blood films, reticulocyte counts, cytochemistry, identification of abnormal haemoglobins, HbA2 and HbF quantitation, G6PD screening tests, assays of serum vitamin B12, folate and ferritin. For most tests there has been significant reduction in inter-laboratory variance despite occasional blunders. This illustrates the role of NEQAS in improving the standard of laboratory practice in the UK. The problems in equating analysis of NEQAS survey materials with routine laboratory specimen are discussed.