AEGiS-15IAC: Asian and Pacific region external quality assessment for HIV testing.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Asian and Pacific region external quality assessment for HIV testing.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. TuOrB1148)

Walker SK, Aye TT, Francis B, Dax EM
National Serology Reference Laboratory, Australia, Melbourne, Australia

BACKGROUND: Accurate HIV test results are critical for the correct diagnosis and treatment of HIV. The National Serology Reference Laboratory, Australia (NRL) coordinates an External Quality Assessment Scheme (EQAS) monitoring laboratory performances for anti-HIV testing in Asia, the Pacific and Australia.

METHODS: The NRL has provided an EQAS to the regions since 1989, in collaboration with WHO. Participants receive two HIV panels yearly. Each panel is ten coded plasma samples, characterised by the NRL. Laboratories tested the samples using their normal testing strategy. Results were analysed to: identify and investigate incorrect results, identify assays performing poorly and calculate error rates [incorrect results as a ratio of the reported results].

RESULTS: were presented in educational reports providing feedback to laboratories on their performances and potential solutions for testing errors. Workshops have been coordinated to train laboratories in quality concepts, targeting problems identified in the EQAS.

RESULTS: Since 1989, 18 HIV EQAS panels were distributed to 78 laboratories in 30 countries. Over 15,000 results were analysed by the NRL. The laboratories in the Asian and Pacific regions reported a higher number of incorrect results than laboratories from within Australia. The errors rates for 1992 to 2002 were 2.5% and 0.8%, respectively. The higher error rate for the Asian and Pacific regions may be attributed to factors including insufficient resources, inadequate technician training, lack of governmental support and the use of assays of inferior performance because regulation of HIV tests is limited.

CONCLUSIONS: The NRL's EQAS has identified errors in anti-HIV testing and helped laboratories to improve their testing processes. It should be understood by governments, in clinical and diagnostic programmes that without adequate and accurate laboratory support that HIV medicine and epidemiology cannot be of quality.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Laboratories, HIV, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, AIDS Serodiagnosis, HIV Antibodies, HIV-1, Laboratory Techniques and Procedures, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Australia, Asia, immunology, methods, diagnosis

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TuOrB1148