title: Re-evaluations of disk diffusion quality control ranges for 11 drugs: report from the QC working group of the national committee for clinical laboratory standards.
abstract: A multi-laboratory re-evaluation protocol was initiated in 2001 to address broad-based concerns about the appropriateness of contemporary disk diffusion quality control (QC) guidelines of several antimicrobials in the tables of the M2-A7 standard of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS). This study that conformed to the NCCLS M23-A2 guideline demonstrates the dynamic processes that result in modification or development of these 11 QC zone diameter ranges. These changes included long-term QC problems for cefazolin (new range, 21-27 mm) and trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole (new range, 23-29 mm) when tested against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, and ticarcillin (new range, 21-27 mm) versus Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853. All proposed ranges have been approved by the NCCLS for publication in M100-S12 tables in 2002.
authors.affiliation: The Jones Group/JMI Laboratories, 345 Beaver Kreek Centre, Suit A, North Liberty, IA, USA. ronald-jones@jmilabs.com
authors.forename: Ronald N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cullen
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D007753:Laboratories; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000592:standards*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D011786:Quality Control; D015363:Quinolones / Q000494:pharmacology; D012015:Reference Standards
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015363:Quinolones