PT0061 Microbiology – Farm Animals

• Sample Details 10mg freeze-dried sample in glass vial.
• Method Various culture and isolation methods and these may include additional confirmatory tests. Participants will be given clinical information about the sample, as would happen with most usual sample submissions to a laboratory. Using normal routine procedures, the participants will make their choice of tests to try to determine the organisms present.

Overview

The purpose of the scheme is for participants to be able to monitor and evaluate their testing performance in isolation and identification (ID) of an intended pathogen (or non-pathogen) which are accompanied by a clinical history of a known species from simulated diagnostic specimens.

Result input

Results are returned through our electronic reporting system.

Culture: Record any pathogen found in the “Intended Pathogen(s) Isolated”, Where other organisms are isolated, these can be recorded in the “Other Organism(s) Isolated”

Results deadline (from date of shipping)

21 days

PT Report

Authorised report will be published electronically. These will show intended result and results from all participants

Two final reports are issued to participants, one only shows an individual lab’s results including their lab score for each sample. The other shows the intended results, results for all participants and the overall percentage of labs that submitted the correct results.

The results, for the intended pathogen will be scored according to the following criteria:

2 – Fully correct result i.e. correct species

1 – Partially correct result e.g. correct genus but not species, or fully correct intended species as ‘Other organism’

0 – Incorrect non pathogen, or correct genus but incorrect non pathogen species

-1 – Unintended pathogen, or incorrect pathogen species

Not tested – Notification of no result submitted by participant with valid reason

Not scored – No growth detected from a sample containing an organism, educational or sample invalidated post issue

Accreditation Status

ISO/IEC 17043 Conformity assessment – General requirements for proficiency testing.

Health and Safety

This material is for in vitro use only, not for use in animals.

Import Permit

It is the responsibility of the participants to check with their customs authority if an import permit is required to import VETQAS® PT samples. If a permit is required, we must receive a valid copy of the permit before the scheduled distribution date. Please note, if we do not receive the permit by the scheduled distribution date the samples will not be shipped and there will be no refund.

Provision of external services

Aspects of the Proficiency Testing schemes may at times be performed by a competent external service provider, for which VETQAS® is responsible.