The PT Summary Report in AB Manager is designed to present complex TNI Proficiency Testing (PT) requirements in a clear, printable, and defensible format. This article explains how PT compliance is evaluated, how to read the report, and how AB Manager determines which PT data is evaluated.

Overview of TNI PT Requirements

Under TNI standards, laboratories must demonstrate ongoing proficiency for each applicable matrix / analyte / technology combination. In general:

• PTs must be analyzed approximately every six months
• No more than seven months may elapse between PT study close dates
• Compliance is evaluated using the most recent three PT opportunities
• At least two passing PTs out of the most recent three are required for compliance

AB Manager automates this evaluation using consistent, transparent logic aligned with TNI expectations.

How AB Manager Determines What Is Evaluated

AB Manager only evaluates PT compliance for matrix / analyte / technology combinations that the laboratory has explicitly requested on the Lab Parameters page.

• Lab Parameters define the laboratory’s intended scope and responsibilities
• PT evaluation is limited to those declared combinations
• PT data that does not match the Lab Parameters configuration is not evaluated

This prevents laboratories from being evaluated against:

• Technologies they do not claim
• Matrices they do not analyze
• Analytes outside their requested scope

Why AB Manager Evaluates by Matrix, Analyte, and Technology

TNI PT requirements apply at the most granular accreditation level, which is why AB Manager evaluates PT compliance by:

• Matrix (e.g., DW, NPW, Solid)
• Analyte
• Technology (e.g., ICP-MS, IC-COND, UV-VIS)

A PT result for one technology does not satisfy requirements for another. This approach ensures evaluations are:

• Fully TNI-aligned
• Directly traceable to scope decisions
• Easy to explain during assessments

What Is FoPT?

FoPT stands for Field of Proficiency Testing.

In the PT Summary Report:

• FoPT = Yes means the analyte appears on TNI’s FoPT tables
• FoPT = No means the analyte does not appear on the FoPT tables

Important clarification:
FoPT = No does not automatically mean PT is not required.
Instead, it provides helpful context when determining whether PT should be required for a specific matrix / analyte / technology combination.

Final PT applicability is determined by:

• TNI requirements
• Accreditation body expectations
• The laboratory’s requested scope (Lab Parameters)

What Is a PT Interval?

A PT interval represents one PT opportunity within the rolling evaluation window.

The report displays up to three intervals, labeled:

• INT1 – Oldest interval (left)
• INT2 – Middle interval
• INT3 – Most recent interval (right)

Intervals are ordered from oldest to most recent, left to right.

How to Read the Interval Columns (INT1, INT2, INT3)

Each interval cell contains three elements:

P / F

• P = Pass
• F = Fail

Study Number

• The PT provider’s study identifier

Study Close Date (in parentheses)

• The official PT close date used for timing and interval calculations

Example:
P 345 (05/22/25)
= Passed PT study 345 with a close date of May 22, 2025

What Does “No PT” Mean?

No PT means that no qualifying PT data exists for that specific matrix / analyte / technology combination during that interval.

Common reasons include:

• No PT offered during that time
• PT not required for that combination
• PT data exists but does not match the Lab Parameters configuration

“No PT” does not automatically indicate failure. It simply reflects the absence of evaluable PT data for that interval.

How AB Manager Handles Time Between PTs

AB Manager uses a 31-day month when calculating elapsed time between PT study close dates.

This is the most forgiving interpretation of the “less than seven months” requirement and avoids penalizing laboratories due to calendar month length differences. If the elapsed time exceeds allowable limits, the interval is treated as no valid PT, consistent with TNI guidance.

Important Interpretation Notes

The following conditions are expected behaviors of the PT Summary Report and do not indicate an error in AB Manager.

PT Not Available for Certain Analytes

A Fail-0 or No PT result is expected when PT samples are not available for a given analyte or activity.

Examples include:

• Sample preparation methods
• Certain calculated parameters
• Analytes for which PT providers do not offer studies

In these cases, the absence of PT data reflects PT availability, not laboratory performance.

Technology Mismatch Between PT Provider and Accreditation Request

AB Manager evaluates PT results using the technology requested by the laboratory with the accrediting authority.

If the technology reported to the PT provider does not match the technology requested on the Lab Parameters page, the PT result will not be recognized or evaluated.

Example:

• Requested technology: ICP-MS
• Reported to PT provider: ICP

Result: The PT is not evaluated, and the interval may display No PT.

This ensures PT evaluations align with the laboratory’s declared scope of accreditation, not just the reported analytical result.

Why This Matters

These rules prevent:

• Credit for PTs run using unapproved technologies
• Incorrect conclusions during assessments
• Misalignment between PT performance and accredited scope

Understanding the PT Overall Result

The PT Overall column summarizes compliance for each evaluated matrix / analyte / technology combination.

Examples:

• Pass-3 → 3 of the most recent 3 PTs passed
• Pass-2 → 2 of the most recent 3 PTs passed (minimum compliance)
• Fail-1 → Only 1 passing PT in the evaluation window
• Fail-0 → No passing PTs in the evaluation window

This value represents the final PT compliance determination used by AB Manager.

PT Overall — Details Popup

Selecting the PT Overall result for any row opens the PT Overall — Details popup. This view provides transparency into how the final PT score was calculated.

The Studies section lists the individual PT studies considered, including the study number, close date, evaluation outcome, and the calculated close-to-close timing between studies (shown in months). Values exceeding the allowable interval are highlighted. The Intervals section maps those studies into Interval 1 (oldest) through Interval 3 (most recent) and shows whether each interval resulted in a Pass, Fail, or No PT. The Timing (days) section displays the actual day counts used in the interval calculations. Finally, the Overall section summarizes the result (e.g., Pass-2) and, when applicable, displays a recommended action such as internal corrective action. This popup is intended to make PT evaluations fully traceable and easy to explain during an assessment.

Why This Report Is Structured This Way

The PT Summary Report is intentionally designed to be:

• Printable and assessor-friendly
• Transparent and traceable
• Directly tied to laboratory scope declarations

Each row represents a single, defensible PT compliance decision unit.