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Quality Assurance Unit - Scheme Details

Microbiology
PT Number
PT0061
Scheme title

Microbiology culture & isolation - Farm animals.

Every three months the panel of samples will include one sample for Antibiotic Sensitivity Test (AST), alternating between Gram negative and Gram positive organisms. All other samples will be for isolation and identification. These samples may include at least one pathogen and could also contain contaminants. The organisms will be either reference or field strains. 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.

The results, for the intended pathogen (of the non AST samples) 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

Suitable testing methods
Various culture and isolation methods, and these may include additional confirmatory tests.
Reporting format

Please record any pathogen found in the “Intended Pathogen(s) Isolated” entry. Where other organisms are isolated, these can be recorded in the “Other Organism(s) Isolated” entry.

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.

Results to be returned
Within 21 days
Number of samples in each distribution
3
Sample Type
0.1 mL Freeze dried cultures in glass vials
Packaging and transport details
UN3373 Biological substance B. Courier delivery will incur additional charges. Please contact the QA unit for details.
Number of distributions per year
12
Accreditation status
ISO/IEC 17043: 2010 Conformity assessment - General requirements for proficiency testing.
Date scheme started
Pre 2007
Notes
In some laboratories, a Veterinarian may be responsible or required for determining a diagnosis from the laboratory testing results especially when deciding whether or not an organism is considered to be a pathogen and recommending treatment. In this proficiency test, Veterinarians are able to make their comments in the comments box on the result entry sheets. However these comments are not considered as part of the PT scheme and will not be assessed.
For price and detail of distribution months please see price list or contact: vetqas@apha.gov.uk
Back to PT Schemes Prices & Timetable | Print scheme details | Version 8. May 2017