A scheme for external quality assessment (EQA) is an essential requirement for any professional laboratory seeking to provide a service facility. The Clinical Molecular Genetics Society, formed in 1988 and the first professional body to represent the discipline of diagnostic molecular genetics, quickly recognised the need for external quality assessment to maintain standards in this field. The CMGS set up quality assessment pilot schemes in 1991 and 1993 to include the most commonly tested conditions at the time. In order for the EQA scheme to be recognised by the Department of Health it was necessary for its administration to be independent from the discipline's professional body. To this end the CMGS EQA sub-committee was re-born in 1994 as the 'Steering Committee for Molecular Genetics External Quality Assurance' (MGEQA). Funding was granted from the Department of Health for a two-year period to facilitate this transition.

In 1999 the MGEQA became a full member of UKNEQAS, an 'umbrella' organisation that has developed to provide a multidisciplinary network of educational quality assessment schemes across the range of pathology disciplines. The UKNEQAS code of practice for member schemes helps to ensure nationally agreed standards in quality assessment. The current scheme is self-financing and non-profit making and entirely independent of the CMGS, although close links are maintained. Similarly close ties are also held with the UK NEQAS for Cytogenetics and the European Molecular Genetics Quality Network (EMQN).
Participation in appropriate EQA schemes where available is now designated as one of the requirements for laboratory Clinical Pathology Accreditation (CPA). 

In addition CPA (UK) Ltd is responsible for the accreditation of quality assessment schemes and a Geneticist sits on their Advisory Committee for EQA. The UK NEQAS for Molecular Genetics was awarded full CPA (EQA) accreditation in January 2001. 

The Joint Working Group on Quality Assurance (JWG), consisting of representatives from each of the professional organisations in pathology services and also from the Royal College of Pathologists, was set up to approve each EQA scheme and report to the Department of Health (see also the JWG conditions of participation by UK clinical laboratories in external quality assessment schemes). Much of the responsibility for this now resides with CPA (UK) Ltd.

The progress of each EQA scheme and its results are monitored by the National Quality Assessment Advisory Panels (NQAAPs), groups of specialists in each field who provide a link between the Joint Working Group and the scheme organisers, and whose remit includes dealing with cases of persistent poor performance. The JWG continues to work closely with NQAAP and is the last resort for unresolved persistent poor performance.

It is the responsibility of the Steering Committee to advise the Scheme Organiser on the scientific content of the scheme. In molecular genetics the Steering Committee comprises ten senior molecular geneticists from the three participant countries, U.K., Ireland and the Netherlands, as well as representatives from clinical genetics, cytogenetics and the private sector (see 2008 Molecular Genetics Steering Committee). The practical aspects of the scheme including the design of the format, compilation of referral cases, determination of scoring criteria, supply of DNA samples and the scoring of reports are (in molecular genetics) the responsibility of the Steering Committee. The Scheme Organiser is, however, ultimately responsible for the overall organisation and running of the scheme.

For more details on the practical aspects of the scheme and how to participate see the Participitants' Manual.