6. Mistakes to avoid

6.1 Don't treat proficiency testing samples as one-offs

Missing a proficiency test can have consequences. The temptation is therefore strong to apply a "special regime" to samples received from time to time, and not to treat them as routine samples. This "passing test" syndrome can be counter-productive. If the results obtained are surprising or disappointing, it's best to seek an explanation and not hesitate to discuss the matter with other participants. Initially, the associative structure of proficiency testing organizers was there to enable this dialogue.