title: [Analysis of the results of the HIV-1, HCV and HBV viral load of SEIMC External Quality Control Program. Year 2012].
abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis B (HBV) and C virus (HCV) viral load determinations are among the most relevant markers for the follow up of patients infected with these viruses. External quality control tools are crucial to ensure the accuracy of results obtained by microbiology laboratories. This article summarized the results obtained from the 2012 SEIMC External Quality Control Programme for HIV-1, HCV, and HBV viral loads. In the HIV-1 program, a total of five standards were sent. One standard consisted in seronegative human plasma, while the remaining four contained plasma from three different viremic patients, in the range of 2-5 log10 copies/mL; two of these standards were identical aiming to determine repeatability. A significant proportion of the laboratories (22.3% on average) obtained values out of the accepted range (mean±0.25 log10 copies/mL), depending on the standard and on the method used for quantification. Repeatability was excellent, with up to 98.9% of laboratories reporting results within the limits (Δ < 0.5 log10 copias/mL). The HBV and HCV program consisted of two standards with different viral load contents. Most of the participants, 84% in the case of HCV and 88% in the HBV, obtained all the results within the accepted range (mean±1.96 SD log10 UI/mL). Data from this analysis reinforce the utility of proficiency programmes to ensure the quality of the results obtained by a particular laboratory, as well as the importance of the post-analytical phase on the overall quality. Due to the remarkable interlaboratory variability, it is advisable to use the same method and the same laboratory for patient follow up.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Control de Calidad Externo SEIMC; Servicio de Microbiología, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: María del Remedio
authors.initials: Mdel R
authors.lastname: Guna Serrano
authors.affiliation: Programa de Control de Calidad Externo SEIMC; Servicio de Microbiología, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, España. Electronic address: niormi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nieves
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Orta Mira
authors.affiliation: Programa de Control de Calidad Externo SEIMC.
authors.forename: José-Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Latorre Martínez
authors.affiliation: Programa de Control de Calidad Externo SEIMC.
authors.forename: María Rosario
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ovies
authors.affiliation: Programa de Control de Calidad Externo SEIMC.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poveda
authors.affiliation: Programa de Control de Calidad Externo SEIMC; Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, España.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruiz  de Gopegui
authors.affiliation: Programa de Control de Calidad Externo SEIMC; Servicio de Microbiología, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, España; Servicio de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gimeno Cardona
mesh_terms: D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D011786:Quality Control; D019562:Viral Load / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Carga viral; Control de calidad externo; External quality control; HBV; HCV; HIV-1; Intercomparación; Proficiency; VHB; VHC; VIH-1; Viral load