Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, 177 Hyeoksin 8-ro, Gimcheon-si 39660, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea.
Viruses. 2023 Mar 24;15(4):823. doi: 10.3390/v15040823.
For the early detection of avian influenza virus (AIV), molecular diagnostic methods such as real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) are the first choice in terms of accuracy and speed in many countries. A laboratory's capability to perform this diagnostic method needs to be measured through external and independent assessment to ensure that the method is validated within the laboratory and in interlaboratory comparison. The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency of Korea has implemented five rounds of proficiency testing (PT) for rRT-PCR targeting local veterinary service laboratories involved in the AIV national surveillance program from 2020 to 2022. In each round, a portion composed of six or more samples was selected from the entire PT panel consisting of H5, H7, and H9 viruses isolated in Korea and distributed to each participant, and at least one pair of samples was commonly included in each panel for interlaboratory comparison. During the five rounds of PT, a few incorrect and outlying results were detected that required immediate inspection or corrective actions. However, in the quantitative measurement of Ct values, the average standard deviation or coefficient of variation decreased as multiple PT rounds progressed, and a positive correlation between consecutive rounds of PT was observed since 2021. The better consistency or stability in the experimental performance appeared to contribute to the more harmonized results in the latest PTs, and it is assumed that the positive reaction of participants to the challenges of quantitative assessment reports showing their status intuitively might work. We need to continue operating the PT program for local laboratories because they play crucial roles at the front line of the national avian influenza surveillance program, and frequent changes in the human resources or environment for diagnosis in those laboratories are inevitable.
为了早期检测禽流感病毒 (AIV)，在许多国家，基于准确性和速度，实时 RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) 等分子诊断方法是首选。为了确保实验室内部和实验室间比较验证了该方法，实验室执行该诊断方法的能力需要通过外部和独立评估进行衡量。韩国动植物检疫局自 2020 年至 2022 年，针对参与国家性 AIV 监测计划的地方兽医服务实验室，实施了五轮 rRT-PCR 能力验证（PT）。在每一轮中，从由韩国分离的 H5、H7 和 H9 病毒组成的整个 PT 面板中选择六个或更多的样本组成一部分，并分发给每个参与者，且每个面板中至少有一对样本用于实验室间比较。在五轮 PT 中，发现了一些错误和异常结果，需要立即进行检查或采取纠正措施。然而，在 Ct 值的定量测量中，随着 PT 轮次的增加，平均标准偏差或变异系数降低，并且自 2021 年以来，连续轮次的 PT 之间呈正相关。实验性能的一致性或稳定性的提高似乎有助于最新 PT 中结果更加协调一致，并且假设参与者对定量评估报告中显示其状态的挑战的积极反应可能会直观地反映出来。我们需要继续为当地实验室运营 PT 计划，因为它们在国家性禽流感监测计划的前线发挥着至关重要的作用，而这些实验室中诊断的人力资源或环境频繁变化是不可避免的。
