Quality control assessment for the PCR diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis virus infections.
BACKGROUND
Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is an efficient method for the early detection of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) RNA in blood and serum samples taken prior to the appearance of antibodies. Improved diagnostics are critical for optimally detecting and managing TBE infections and quality control measures are therefore essential.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the diagnostic quality of laboratories by performing an external quality assurance (EQA) programme for the molecular detection of TBE infections.


METHODS
A panel of 12 prepared human plasma samples were distributed and tested for the presence of TBEV-specific RNA. The panel comprised eight samples spiked with different TBEV strains of European, Siberian and Far Eastern subtypes, and included a 10-fold dilution series. Two specificity controls consisted of a sample with Louping ill virus (LIV) and a sample with a pool of four other flaviviruses, and two negative control samples were further included.


RESULTS
Twenty-three laboratories from 16 European and 2 non-European countries participated in this EQA programme. Only two participants correctly identified all samples. Nine laboratories correctly identified 75.0-91.7% of the samples; seven laboratories correctly identified 54.5-66.7% and five laboratories correctly identified < or =50%.


CONCLUSIONS
The EQA programme provides information on the quality of the RT-PCR methods used by the participating laboratories and indicates that most of these need to improve sensitivity and specificity of their molecular assays for TBEV.
Donoso Mantke
Oliver
O
Robert Koch-Institut, Centre for Biological Safety, Division of Highly Pathogenic Viruses (ZBS-1), Nordufer 20, D-13353 Berlin, Germany. donosoo@rki.de
Aberle
Stephan W
SW
Avsic-Zupanc
Tatjana
T
Labuda
Milan
M
Niedrig
Matthias
M
D004669:Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004675:Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D011786:Quality Control; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012846:Singapore; D013045:Species Specificity
D012367:RNA, Viral