scholarly journals Novel external quality assurance scheme for drug susceptibility testing of non-tuberculous mycobacteria: a multicentre pilot study

2019 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 1288-1294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladyslav Nikolayevskyy ◽  
Florian P Maurer ◽  
Yen Holicka ◽  
Lucy Taylor ◽  
Helen Liddy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Susceptibility Testing ◽  
Drug Susceptibility ◽  
Drug Susceptibility Testing ◽  
External Quality Assurance ◽  
External Quality ◽  
Assurance Scheme ◽  
Quality Assurance Scheme

scholarly journals Implementation of quality management systems and progress towards accreditation of National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratories in Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Albert ◽  
Jean De Dieu Iragena ◽  
Kekeletso Kao ◽  
Donatelle Erni ◽  
Teferi Mekonen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Susceptibility Testing ◽  
Drug Susceptibility ◽  
Drug Susceptibility Testing ◽  
External Quality Assurance ◽  
External Quality ◽  
National Tuberculosis ◽  
Line Drug

Background: Laboratory services are essential at all stages of the tuberculosis care cascade, from diagnosis and drug resistance testing to monitoring response to treatment. Enabling access to quality services is a challenge in low-resource settings. Implementation of a strong quality management system (QMS) and laboratory accreditation are key to improving patient care.Objectives: The study objective was to determine the status of QMS implementation and progress towards accreditation of National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratories (NTRLs) in the African Region.Method: An online questionnaire was administered to NTRL managers in 47 World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa member states in the region, between February and April 2015, regarding the knowledge of QMS tools and progress toward implementation to inform strategies for tuberculosis diagnostic services strengthening in the region.Results: A total of 21 laboratories (43.0%) had received SLMTA/TB-SLMTA training, of which 10 had also used the Global Laboratory Initiative accreditation tool. However, only 36.7% of NTRLs had received a laboratory audit, a first step in quality improvement. Most NTRLs participated in acid-fast bacilli microscopy external quality assurance (95.8%), although external quality assurance for other techniques was lower (60.4% for first-line drug susceptibility testing, 25.0% for second-line drug susceptibility testing, and 22.9% for molecular testing). Barriers to accreditation included lack of training and accreditation programmes. Only 28.6%of NTRLs had developed strategic plans and budgets which included accreditation.Conclusion: Good foundations are in place on the continent from which to scale up accreditation efforts. Laboratory audits should be conducted as a first step in developing quality improvement action plans. Political commitment and strong leadership are needed to drive accreditation efforts; advocacy will require clear evidence of patient impact and cost-benefit.

scholarly journals Pilot Experience with an External Quality Assurance Scheme for Acylcarnitines in Plasma/Serum

2016 ◽  
pp. 23-31
Author(s):  
P. Ruiz Sala ◽  
G. Ruijter ◽  
C. Acquaviva ◽  
A. Chabli ◽  
M. G. M. de Sain-van der Velden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
External Quality Assurance ◽  
External Quality ◽  
Pilot Experience ◽  
Assurance Scheme ◽  
Quality Assurance Scheme

Water virology external quality assurance scheme: experiences over four years

1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 471-473
Author(s):  
J. Sellwood ◽  
J. Shore
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
External Quality Assurance ◽  
Recreational Water ◽  
External Quality ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Virus Recovery ◽  
Assurance Scheme ◽  
Quality Assurance Scheme ◽  
Stringent Quality

The Water Virology External Quality Assurance (EQA) Scheme has distributed samples containing enterovirus to the specialised virus laboratories in Britain which analyse recreational water. Duplicate samples were either assayed for direct virus count or added to 101 of water, concentrated to 10ml and then assayed for virus counts. Although similar counts were obtained in different laboratories on direct assays, a wide range of virus counts was reported after water processing. However, robust attention to method detail and stringent quality control has been shown to improve the consistency of virus recovery rates. The results of tests for enterovirus in recreational water can then be used with confidence.

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