An Anti-collusion Diagnostic Model for Proficiency Testing Integrating Parallel Measurement Design, Youden-HL Logic, and Differentiated Metrological Monitoring

An Anti-collusion Diagnostic Model for Proficiency Testing Integrating Parallel Measurement Design, Youden-HL Logic, and Differentiated Metrological Monitoring | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article An Anti-collusion Diagnostic Model for Proficiency Testing Integrating Parallel Measurement Design, Youden-HL Logic, and Differentiated Metrological Monitoring Huiliang Zhang This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8664109/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract External Quality Assessment (EQA) serves as both a regulatory tool for compliance and a vital educational platform for advancing laboratory technical proficiency, with Proficiency Testing (PT) as the core technical vehicle for its realization. However, traditional PT schemes face persistent challenges in averting collusion, which compromises the diagnostic integrity of both one-dimensional metrics like the 𝑧 -score and split-level designs utilizing 𝑍 B and 𝑍 n, . This study introduced a non-pretreatment Survey Sample (SS) alongside the conventional matrix-based Assessment Sample (AS) as a structural evolution of the split-level design. By establishing the Youden-HL diagnosis on the dimensionless Relative Deviation ( 𝑅𝐷 ) of these paired datasets, we provided a versatile adaptation to classic Youden plot logic. Analysis of 147 paired datasets identified four distinct deviation modalities, decoupling matrix-induced biases from traceability-related errors while exposing measurement integrity risks. Following the pilot trial, a robust metrological monitor—utilizing a 2D SS array as Differentiated Metrological Fingerprints—was proposed to counter collusion and ensure the sustained viability of the model in high-stakes environments. By safeguarding data integrity and improving the diagnostic precision regarding sources of measurement bias, this model is expected to help PT better serve the objectives of both regulatory and educational EQA and drive sustainable quality improvement within the EQA community. Applied Statistics Systems Engineering Analytical Chemistry Proficiency testing(PT) Anti-collusion Measurement integrity Sources of bias Diagnostic Model Quality Engineering Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8664109","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":578420059,"identity":"5eb60fe1-ba00-4bdd-a1cb-4d8e00dd5612","order_by":0,"name":"Huiliang Zhang","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAo0lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACA3YexgOMDTY8/PwNxGph5mEAakmTkZxxgDQth20MGhKI1GLOzHvg4M8d53kMgDo/fMwhQotlM1/CAckzt3nMmRuYJWduI8Zhh3kMDhi23eaxbDjAxsxLtJbEtnNAMoEULQfbDpCo5WBjWzKP5IyDzUT65XiP4cOfbXb2/PzNBz98JEYLEmBsIE39KBgFo2AUjALcAAAJEjhlkAGnSwAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9319-4067","institution":"","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Huiliang","middleName":"","lastName":"Zhang","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-01-22 01:21:36","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":false,"vertebrateSubjects":false,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false,"humanSubjectConsent":false,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8664109/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8664109/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":101284372,"identity":"a5d8be8a-1307-4904-8486-617e1a40d497","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-28 06:11:03","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":637692,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"PreprintforthepaperAnAnticollusionDiagnosticModelforProficiencyTestingIntegratingParallelMeasurementDesignYoudenHLLogicandDifferentiatedMetrologicalMonitoring.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8664109/v1_covered_fec709ec-2eaf-4343-ab01-8ea6b2f2d0de.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAn Anti-collusion Diagnostic Model for Proficiency Testing Integrating Parallel Measurement Design, Youden-HL Logic, and Differentiated Metrological Monitoring\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Proficiency testing(PT), Anti-collusion, Measurement integrity, Sources of bias, Diagnostic Model, Quality Engineering","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8664109/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8664109/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eExternal Quality Assessment (EQA) serves as both a regulatory tool for compliance and a vital educational platform for advancing laboratory technical proficiency, with Proficiency Testing (PT) as the core technical vehicle for its realization. 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