Annual Report on External Quality Assessment in Immunoserology in Korea (2002)

Cha, Young Joo; Kum, Dong Gil; Kim, Sung Won; Kim, Think You; Kim, Jae Ryong; Kim, Hyon Suk; Park, Myong Hee; Park, Seong Hoon; Park, Ae Ja; Son, Han Chul; Yang, Joo Suk; Lee, Kye Sook; Chae, Seok Lae

Abstract

The followings are the results for external quality assessment (EQA) in immunoserology for 2002: 1. Evaluation of EQA was done in 2 trials in May and November, about 96% of laboratories participating average 8.3 items. 2. In C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-streptolysin O (ASO) tests, about 40%, 53% and 52% of the participating laboratories respectively have used qualitative assays, mainly latex agglutination. And about 55%, 43% and 40% of the participating laboratories have used quantitative assays, turbidimetric immunoassay (TIA) or nephelometry in CRP, RF and ASO tests respectively. Laboratories using TIA increased and those using nephelometry decreased. The instruments which were the most frequently used in nephelometry were BN series (Dade Behring Inc., Germany). The instruments of Hitachi series (Hitachi Ltd., Japan), Cobas Integra and Mira series (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Germany), Toshiba series (Toshiba Corporation, Japan) and Olympus AU series (Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., Japan) were frequently used in TIA. The quantitative results were quite variable according to the methods or reagents, especially in RF and ASO. 3. Over 90% of participating laboratoreis have used imunoassay including enzyme immunoassay (EIA), microparticle EIA (MEIA), chemiluminescence immunoassay (CIA), immunochromatography assay (ICA) or radioimmunoassay (RIA). Laboratories using CIA and ICA increased. Sensitivities of ICA were lower than those of other immunoassays in the results of HBsAg and anti-HCV. The sensitivity of SD HCV (Standard Diagnostics, Inc., Korea) was especially lower in anti-HCV results. Sensitivities of CIA and ICA were also lower than those of EIA including MEIA in the results of anti-HIV. 4. The criteria of interpretation were considered to be evaluated in Widal test and laboratories using ICA increased in serological tests for syphilis.