Rui Li1, Runling Zhang1, Ping Tan1, Yanxi Han2, Yuqing Chen1, Zhe Wang1, Dongsheng Han1, Jiawei Zhang1, Jiehong Xie2, Rui Zhang3, Jinming Li4. 1. National Center for Clinical Laboratories, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, PR China; Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China; Beijing Engineering Research Center of Laboratory Medicine, Beijing Hospital, Beijing, PR China. 2. National Center for Clinical Laboratories, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, PR China; Beijing Engineering Research Center of Laboratory Medicine, Beijing Hospital, Beijing, PR China. 3. National Center for Clinical Laboratories, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, PR China; Beijing Engineering Research Center of Laboratory Medicine, Beijing Hospital, Beijing, PR China. Electronic address: ruizhang@nccl.org.cn. 4. National Center for Clinical Laboratories, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, PR China; Beijing Engineering Research Center of Laboratory Medicine, Beijing Hospital, Beijing, PR China. Electronic address: jmli@nccl.org.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Astrovirus (AstV), Sapovirus (SaV) and Poliovirus (PV) are important pathogens that cause infections in children under five years of age. It is a very important task to systematically monitor and evaluate the diagnostic performance of these viruses in clinical laboratories. METHODS: In our study, we performed a multicenter evaluation study among 21 laboratories across China using simulated stool samples spiked with self-designed AstV, SaV and PV pseudoviral particles. RESULTS: The testing capability of 80.0% (16/20, AstV), 52.6% (10/19, SaV), and 25.0% (2/8, PV) of the participating laboratories were found to be "competent" in reporting correct results for all samples. The main type of errors were false negatives. None of the laboratories identified the subtypes of AstV and SaV, and six laboratories specifically identified the subtypes of PV. Lacking of well-trained personnel and adequate funding were the main challenges. From the questionnaire results, 55.6% laboratories (10/18) believe that training personnel could improve the laboratory testing performance. CONCLUSIONS: The laboratories showed a competent diagnostic performance for AstV, but inferior diagnostic performances for SaV and PV. Sensitivity of detection and the ability for virus typing should be improved clinically. Professional and standardized personnel training is urgently needed to further improve laboratory performance.
BACKGROUND: Astrovirus (AstV), Sapovirus (SaV) and Poliovirus (PV) are important pathogens that cause infections in children under five years of age. It is a very important task to systematically monitor and evaluate the diagnostic performance of these viruses in clinical laboratories. METHODS: In our study, we performed a multicenter evaluation study among 21 laboratories across China using simulated stool samples spiked with self-designed AstV, SaV and PV pseudoviral particles. RESULTS: The testing capability of 80.0% (16/20, AstV), 52.6% (10/19, SaV), and 25.0% (2/8, PV) of the participating laboratories were found to be "competent" in reporting correct results for all samples. The main type of errors were false negatives. None of the laboratories identified the subtypes of AstV and SaV, and six laboratories specifically identified the subtypes of PV. Lacking of well-trained personnel and adequate funding were the main challenges. From the questionnaire results, 55.6% laboratories (10/18) believe that training personnel could improve the laboratory testing performance. CONCLUSIONS: The laboratories showed a competent diagnostic performance for AstV, but inferior diagnostic performances for SaV and PV. Sensitivity of detection and the ability for virus typing should be improved clinically. Professional and standardized personnel training is urgently needed to further improve laboratory performance.