GenQA
GenQA is a not-for-profit External Quality Assessment and Proficiency Testing provider for clinical genomics, operated by Oxford University NHS Foundation Trust as part of UK NEQAS. It delivers over 120 ISO 17043-accredited EQA schemes and the GENie competency assessment platform to 2,600 laboratories across 101 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersEdinburgh, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What GenQA does
GenQA is a not-for-profit External Quality Assessment (EQA) and Proficiency Testing provider serving the clinical genomics community worldwide. Operated by Oxford University NHS Foundation Trust and operating as part of the UK NEQAS consortium, the organization delivers over 120 EQA schemes across 13 genomics disciplines (including clinical genetics, haematological neoplasms, molecular pathology, pharmacogenomics, viral sequencing, and reproductive genomics), reaching 2,600 participating laboratories across 101 countries and supported by 237 expert scientific advisors. Most schemes are accredited to ISO 17043, and the organization holds the NHS England contract for EQA delivery against the full National Genomic Test Directory.
The company's core technology platform is GENie, an online genomic education and competency assessment tool covering HGVS and ISCN nomenclature, germline and somatic variant classification (SNV/CNV/BRCA/HRR), risk calculations, WGS/WES proportionate variant analysis, and tumour tissue assessment (Tissue-i). The platform delivers instant automated scoring, randomized scenarios, and CPD/CME hours, with individual access priced at £35 per year and laboratory multi-licences at £330 per year for 10 users. GenQA monetizes through subscription-based EQA scheme participation fees (variable by programme, with early bird discounts and 30% emerging-economy reductions), individual and institutional GENie subscriptions, and the NHS England EQA contract; certain modules (e.g., BRCA/HRR classification) are offered free of charge under educational grants from AstraZeneca and MSD.
GenQA distributes primarily through direct enrolment via its member portal at eqa.genqa.org, supported by multilingual submission capability across seven languages, an active conference and webinar programme, and channel partnerships with Swiss CSCQ (for Swiss national certification) and UK NEQAS for Microbiology (for SARS-CoV-2 sequencing). Customer concentration sits between large institutional anchors (NHS England, AstraZeneca) and a long tail of 2,600 laboratories globally; growth has been measured and product-led, with three new GENie modules scheduled or launched in 2026 and ongoing geographic expansion into non-Anglophone and emerging markets.
GenQA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GenQA
- Legal name
- GenQA
- Website
- https://genqa.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- GenQA is a not-for-profit External Quality Assessment and Proficiency Testing provider for clinical genomics, operated by Oxford University NHS Foundation Trust as part of UK NEQAS. It delivers over 120 ISO 17043-accredited EQA schemes and the GENie competency assessment platform to 2,600 laboratories across 101 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GenQA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Clinical Genomics Quality Assessment
- NAICS
- Medical Laboratories (621511), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (6215)
- SIC
- Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Genomics & Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Services (HLAGANAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Genomics & Molecular Diagnostics (Trial Support) (HLAGAEAD), Molecular Diagnostics & Genomics Laboratories (HLAFAMAE)
Keywords
Where GenQA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edinburgh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
GenQA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- EQA Scheme Participation Fees: GenQA charges laboratories for participation in External Quality Assessment schemes. Fees are based on annual EQA programme enrolment. Discounts available for emerging economies (30% reduction for 5 years for IMF-defined emerging and developing economies).
- GENie Individual Licences: Individual genomics professionals can purchase GENie training access (all modules) for £35 per 12 months. Includes HGVS Nomenclature, ISCN, CNV/SNV Classification, Risk Calculations, Tumour Variant Classification, and WGS/WES Proportionate Variant Analysis.
- GENie Laboratory Multi-Licences: Laboratories or clinical centres can purchase multi-licences for GENie for 10 users, costed at £330 per calendar year, including access to all modules.
- BRCA/HRR Classification Module (Free): The BRCA and HRR gene variant classification module is provided at no fee to participants, supported through an educational grant by AstraZeneca and MSD.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | GENie Individual Licence – £35 for 12 months |
| Subscription | Annual | GENie Laboratory Multi-Licence – £330 for 10 users per calendar year |
| Subscription | Annual | EQA Scheme Fees – Variable by programme |
| Freemium | Annual | BRCA/HRR Classification Module – Free |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
GenQA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GenQA provides External Quality Assessment (EQA) and Proficiency Testing services to clinical genomics laboratories worldwide, delivering over 120 EQAs across 13 disciplines including clinical genetics, haematological neoplasms, molecular pathology, pharmacogenomics, technical NGS, variant classification, and viral sequencing. The organisation also operates GENie, an online competency assessment tool for individual genomics professionals covering HGVS/ISCN nomenclature, germline and somatic variant classification, BRCA/HRR gene variants, risk calculations, WGS/WES proportionate variant analysis, and tissue assessment.
Product overview
GenQA is a not-for-profit External Quality Assessment (EQA)/Proficiency Testing provider offering over 120 genomics EQAs. The core product portfolio consists of two main offerings: (1) External Quality Assessment (EQA) Programs covering entire clinical genomics service across 13 disciplines including Clinical Genetics, Haematological Neoplasms, Molecular Pathology, Pharmacogenomics, Technical NGS, Variant Classification, and Viral Sequencing; and (2) GENie, a specialist genomic education and assessment tool providing individual competency testing modules. GENie modules include HGVS/ISCN Nomenclature Assessment, Germline Variant Classification (SNV/CNV), BRCA1/BRCA2 & HRR Gene Variants, Somatic Variant Classification, Risk Calculations, WGS/WES Proportionate Variant Analysis, and Tissue-i for tumour annotation. Most EQAs are accredited to ISO 17043 standard and the organization is operated by Oxford University NHS Foundation Trust as part of UK NEQAS.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GENie: A specialist genomic education and assessment tool providing end-to-end competency assessments for genomics professionals, including HGVS Nomenclature, ISCN, CNV/SNV Classification, Risk Calculations, Tumour Variant Classification, and WGS/WES Proportionate Variant Analysis modules.
- Tissue-i
Products and services
- GENie (Genomic Education and Assessment Tool) Online competency assessment platform providing end-to-end individual genomic competency assessment with modules for variant classification, nomenclature, risk calculations, WGS/WES analysis, and tissue assessment. Individual licence £35/12 months; laboratory multi-licence £330 for 10 users per calendar year.
Quantifiable outcome
- 2600 laboratories participate in GenQA EQAs across 101 countries
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use GenQA
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
GenQA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
GenQA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered regional, core and minor.
- Swiss Centre for Quality Control (CSCQ), GenevaregionalCSCQ collaborates with GenQA on request of the Swiss Society of Medical Genetics (SSMG). GenQA develops and coordinates EQA services; CSCQ is responsible for dispatching GenQA scheme samples to Swiss medical laboratories and reviews evaluations together with SSMG to provide official certificates required by Swiss law. This collaboration has been successful since 2017.
- UK NEQAScoreGenQA is operated as part of the UK NEQAS consortium, governed by Oxford University NHS Foundation Trust. UK NEQAS provides EQA services for over 50 years (since 1969) across haematology, microbiology, clinical chemistry, genetic testing, cellular pathology, reproductive science and immunology with 324 EQA programmes. UK NEQAS services have been used by over 100,000 clinical laboratory scientists and healthcare professionals in more than 150 countries.
- Oxford University NHS Foundation TrustcoreGenQA is operated by Oxford University NHS Foundation Trust, which provides institutional governance, scientific leadership, and operational infrastructure for the EQA programmes.
- EMQN (European Molecular Genetics Quality Network)coreGenQA collaborates with EMQN on BRCA and HRR gene variant classification assessments. These assessments take place in spring and autumn each year. EMQN provides additional expertise and reach for this specific programme area.
- UK NEQAS for MicrobiologyminorGenQA collaborates with UK NEQAS for Microbiology on SARS-CoV-2 viral genome sequencing EQA. Participants register with UK NEQAS for Microbiology for this programme, which handles all invoicing and shipment costs. GenQA provides the sequencing analysis assessment.
- AstraZenecaminorAstraZeneca provided an educational grant supporting the BRCA/HRR variant classification module and co-developed variant interpretation resource materials (Variant Interpretation Resource Card). AstraZeneca has also collaborated with GenQA on BRCA testing EQA for ovarian cancer. Lee Welch, AstraZeneca UK, serves as a customer testimonial.
- MSDminorMSD co-funded the BRCA and HRR gene variant classification module as an educational grant partner alongside AstraZeneca. The educational content was co-developed and funded by AstraZeneca and MSD.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
GenQA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- QCMD (Quality Control for Molecular Diagnostics): Independent international EQA provider for molecular diagnostics including viral sequencing, respiratory pathogens, and emerging infections - directly comparable to GenQA's viral sequencing and molecular pathology programmes.
- INSTAND e.V. German non-profit providing EQA across multiple laboratory disciplines including molecular genetics and genomics - a directly comparable European EQA provider competing for the same lab customers.
- Labquality: Finnish-based international EQA provider offering proficiency testing across clinical chemistry, microbiology, and molecular genetics - comparable multi-discipline EQA model to UK NEQAS/GenQA.
- EMQN (European Molecular Genetics Quality Network): European provider of EQA schemes for molecular genetics including BRCA/HRR variant classification - a direct programme-level peer to GenQA, and explicitly listed as a collaboration partner on GenQA's BRCA/HRR module.
- UK NEQAS (parent consortium): UK National External Quality Assessment Service - GenQA's parent consortium, providing 324 EQA programmes across haematology, microbiology, chemistry, immunology, cellular pathology, and genomics with 100,000+ professionals served in 150+ countries.
Broad incumbents
- College of American Pathologists (CAP): US-based pathology accreditation and proficiency testing body offering molecular genetics and genomics EQA programmes as part of a much broader laboratory quality portfolio - overlapping capability, much larger organization.
Regional players
- RCPAQAP (Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Programs): Australasian EQA provider with molecular genetics and genomics programmes - comparable in scope but regionally focused on Australia/New Zealand/Asia-Pacific.
- Swiss Centre for Quality Control (CSCQ): Swiss national EQA provider collaborating with GenQA on Swiss genomic EQA schemes since 2017 - functionally a regional channel/reseller partner and direct peer within Switzerland.
- EQUALIS (External Quality Assurance in Laboratory Medicine in Sweden): Swedish non-profit EQA provider covering clinical chemistry, microbiology, and molecular genetics including genomics - directly comparable service model, geographically focused on Nordics.
Emerging players
- OneOme (genomic interpretation/PGx): Pharmacogenomics-focused clinical service and software company - adjacent to GenQA's pharmacogenomics EQA scope and representing the type of technology-driven entrant that could disrupt traditional EQA models.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GenQA social profiles
Digital presenceGenQA compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
GenQA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GenQA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
GenQA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GenQA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GenQA
What does GenQA do?
GenQA provides External Quality Assessment (EQA) and Proficiency Testing services to clinical genomics laboratories worldwide, delivering over 120 EQAs across 13 disciplines including clinical genetics, haematological neoplasms, molecular pathology, pharmacogenomics, technical NGS, variant classification, and viral sequencing. The organisation also operates GENie, an online competency assessment tool for individual genomics professionals covering HGVS/ISCN nomenclature, germline and somatic variant classification, BRCA/HRR gene variants, risk calculations, WGS/WES proportionate variant analysis, and tissue assessment.
Is GenQA a public or private company?
GenQA is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was GenQA founded?
GenQA was founded in 1982. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is GenQA based?
GenQA is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does GenQA make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. EQA Scheme Participation Fees are the primary driver. The others are GENie Individual Licences, GENie Laboratory Multi-Licences and BRCA/HRR Classification Module (Free).
Who are GenQA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are QCMD (Quality Control for Molecular Diagnostics), INSTAND e.V., Labquality, EMQN (European Molecular Genetics Quality Network) and UK NEQAS (parent consortium). College of American Pathologists (CAP) is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are RCPAQAP (Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Programs), Swiss Centre for Quality Control (CSCQ) and EQUALIS (External Quality Assurance in Laboratory Medicine in Sweden). OneOme (genomic interpretation/PGx) is listed as an emerging player.
Does GenQA have an API?
No public API is recorded for GenQA.
What industry is GenQA in?
GenQA's product category is Clinical Genomics Quality Assessment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGANAA, Genomics & Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Services, with a secondary code of HLAGAEAD, Genomics & Molecular Diagnostics (Trial Support). Its NAICS code is 621511 and its SIC code is 8071.