Ann Lab Med.  2014 Sep;34(5):360-366. 10.3343/alm.2014.34.5.360.

Application of HTB-SiHa Cells Transfected with a Recombinant Plasmid for External Quality Assessment of Chlamydia trachomatis PCR

• Zhang K
• Huo H
• Sun Y
• Wang L
• Zhang R
• Lin G
• Xie J
• Wang Q
• Li J

• KMID: 1791950
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3343/alm.2014.34.5.360

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The participation of laboratories in external quality assessment (EQA) programs is required for the quality assurance of nucleic acid amplification of Chlamydia trachomatis. This study aimed to construct a new quality control (QC) material applicated in EQA of C. trachomatis PCR.
METHODS
A QC material-HTB-SiHa cells transfected with a recombinant plasmid containing the cryptic plasmid sequence-was constructed for C. trachomatis PCR detection, and four different panels, each consisting of 4 positive samples with serial dilution of the constructed QC material and 1 negative sample, were distributed by the National Center for Clinical Laboratories among four groups of 275, 268, 317, and 304 participants across China from 2011 through 2012. A total of eight commercial kits were used for C. trachomatis PCR detection in participants.
RESULTS
Nine laboratories reported false-positive results (0.9%). As the series dilution increased, the correct reporting of the data sets decreased; the lowest correct rate was 96.3% in the weakest positive samples (104 copies/mL). Eight laboratories reported false-positive results, and 42 laboratories reported false-negative results in the EQA detection of C. trachomatis. No significant differences were observed in the detection of the constructed C. trachomatis positive samples (97.9%, 98.5%, 100%, 98.5%; P=0.36) and negative samples (100%, 99.0%, 100%, 99.0%; P=0.764) using four commercial kits commonly used in China.
CONCLUSIONS
The results of the EQA study indicated that the constructed material provides a noninfectious, stable control material with sufficient volume for PCR detection of C. trachomatis.

Keyword

Chlamydia trachomatis; Polymerase chain reaction; Quality control; Epithelial cells; External Quality Assessment

MeSH Terms

Cell Line
Chlamydia Infections/diagnosis
Chlamydia trachomatis/*genetics
DNA, Bacterial/*analysis
False Negative Reactions
Humans
Laboratories/*standards
Plasmids/genetics/*metabolism
Polymerase Chain Reaction/*standards
Quality Control
Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
DNA, Bacterial
Reagent Kits, Diagnostic

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