title: UK NEQAS in antibiotic assays.
abstract: How providers of external quality assessment (EQA) programmes relate to and interact with the monitors and watchdog of clinical laboratory performance in the UK is described. With regard to the quality of antibiotic assays, the changes in methodologies and in performance quality between 1971 (when the UK NEQAS for Antibiotic Assays began) and 1999 is reviewed. How improvements in performance and changes of methodology are related is discussed. The findings and conclusions of two experimental pilot EQA distributions (the teicoplanin assay and serum bactericidal test) are also discussed.
authors: Bristol Centre for Antimicrobial Research and Evaluation, Department of Medical Microbiology, Southmead Hospital, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK. lesassays@ukneqasaa.win-uk.net
authors: L O
authors: LO
authors: White
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents