title: [Analysis of the results of the HIV-1, HCV and HBV viral load of SEIMC External Quality Control Program. Year 2014].
abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis 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 summarizes the results obtained from the 2014 SEIMC (Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology) External Quality Control Programme for HIV-1, HCV, and HBV viral loads. In the HIV-1 program, a total of 5 standards were sent. One standard consisted in seronegative human plasma, while the remaining 4 contained plasma from 3 different viremic patients, in the range of 2-5 log10 copies/mL; 2 of these standards were identical aiming to determine repeatability. A significant proportion of the laboratories (30.8% 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 95.8% of laboratories reporting results within the limits (Δ < 0.5 log10 copies/mL). The HBV and HCV program consisted of 2 standards with different viral load contents. Most of the participants, 83.7% in the case of HCV and 87.9% in the HBV, obtained all the results within the accepted range (mean ± 1.96 standard deviations log10 IU/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: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Medina González
authors.affiliation: Programa de Control de Calidad Externo SEIMC; Sección de Microbiología, Hospital Francesc de Borja, Gandía, 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; Servicio de Microbiología, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, España; Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad 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.
authors.forename: José-Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Latorre Martínez
authors.affiliation: Programa de Control de Calidad Externo SEIMC; Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, España.
authors.forename: Enrique Ruiz de
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Gopegui
authors.affiliation: Programa de Control de Calidad Externo SEIMC.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosario 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, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, España; Departamento 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; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006515:Hepatitis B virus; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards*; D011786:Quality Control; D013030:Spain; 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