title: External quality control of mycobacterial laboratories in the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic and in the former German Democratic Republic.
abstract: Simulated samples of sputa respectively negative sputa artificially contaminated with mycobacteria were sent to mycobacteriological laboratories in CSFR and the former GDR for the purpose of conducting an external quality control of the process employed in bacteriological examination. The average percentage of positive results corresponding with the reference material came to 75.7% in CSFR and 92.0% in former GDR. Methodological differences influencing the results of external laboratory control in both countries are discussed. Systematic external controls are recommended as an invaluable aid for improvement of the bacteriological demonstration of mycobacterial infections.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Prague.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Slosárek
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kalich
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turzová
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Svandová
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gerloff
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003604:Czechoslovakia; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011786:Quality Control; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*