Inter-laboratory testing as a strategy for external quality assessment for qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 by real-time RT-PCR testing in India
Date
2022-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Wolters Kluwer – Medknow
Abstract
To implement the strategy of test, track and treat to tackle the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the number of real-time RT-PCR–based testing laboratories was increased for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in the country. To ensure reliability of the laboratory results, the Indian Council of Medical Research initiated external quality assessment (EQA) by deploying inter-laboratory quality control (ILQC) activity for these laboratories by nominating 34 quality control (QC) laboratories. This report presents the results of this activity for a period of September 2020 till November 2020. A total of 597 laboratories participated in this activity and 86 per cent of these scored ?90 per cent concordance with QC laboratories. This ILQC activity showcased India’s preparedness in quality diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2.
Description
Keywords
External quality assessment programme, proficiency testing, quality control, real, time RT, PCR, SARS-CoV-2 testing, viral research and diagnostic laboratory
Citation
Kaur Harmanmeet, Mukhopadhyay Labanya, Aggarwal Neeraj, Gupta Nivedita, Narayan Jitendra, Vijay Neetu, Gupta Swati, Rana Salaj, Kaur Jasmine, Kumar Vinit, Singh Harpreet. Inter-laboratory testing as a strategy for external quality assessment for qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 by real-time RT-PCR testing in India. Indian Journal of Medical Research. 2022 Jan; 155(1): 86-90