title: A pilot external quality assurance programme for line-probe assay detection of anti-tuberculosis drug resistance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB; resistance to isoniazid and rifampicin) is difficult to detect and control. Line-probe assays (LiPA) are widely used for the rapid detection of MDR-TB.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To ensure the quality of the test, a pilot external quality assurance  (EQA) programme was initiated to assess the feasibility of running such a programme and the possibility of improving the proficiency of TB laboratories in performing the test.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prepared filter-paper-based Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA samples were shipped to participant laboratories  for LiPA EQA. The tests were performed blind, and the results were returned to the organising laboratory for comparison and analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of four rounds of EQA samples were dispatched to five laboratories in four countries. Overall inter- and intra-laboratory reproducibility  was respectively 97% and 96%. The strengths and weaknesses of the participant laboratories in performing the test were discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A LiPA EQA programme can ensure quality and improve the performance of TB laboratories. This is a critical step during the initial stages at the  time of setting up this method of testing.
authors.affiliation: Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Public Health Laboratory Services Branch, Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Y W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kam
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial