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EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM (EQAS) 
 
Participation in internal and external quality assurance systems is a useful tool for production of reliable laboratory results of consistently good quality.
 
However, a WHO survey of antimicrobial resistance surveillance capabilities in 1995 determined that more than 50% of laboratories performing susceptibility testing of Salmonella isolates did not participate in any formal system of quality assurance.
 
Descriptions of the EQAS
 
The National Food Institute, a WHO Collaborating Centre and one of the coordinating agencies of WHO-GFN, is responsible for conducting the WHO-GFN EQAS for Salmonella serotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods.
 
Included is also the option to take part in Shigella serotyping and AST, Campylobacter identification and AST as well as identification of an unknown enteric bacteria. This programme is developed specifically for national reference laboratories participating in the WHO-GFN, and runs annually.
 
EQAS results
 
Laboratories participating in the EQAS receive the strains by mail. The strains should be tested by the methods routinely used in the laboratory and the results should then be submitted to DTU Food through a web-based database (password-protected). Immediately upon receiving the results, an evaluation report will be generated for you.
 
Full anonymity is ensured; only DTU Food and the WHO GFN Regional Centre in your region will be given access to your results. When the results of each cycle of the EQAS have been evaluated, a final summary report is prepared and distributed to all GFN laboratories.
 
  
EQAS Report - 2008
 EQAS Report - 2008
(PDF document, 1.3 MB)
  
EQAS Report - 2007
 EQAS Report - 2007
(PDF document, 1 MB)
 
EQAS Report - 2006
 EQAS Report - 2006
(PDF document, 520 KB)
 
EQAS Report - 2004
EQAS Report - 2004
(PDF document, 400 KB)
 
EQAS Report - 2003
EQAS Report - 2003
(PDF document, 250 KB)
 
EQAS Report - 2002
EQAS Report - 2002
(PDF document, 50 KB)
 
EQAS Report - 2001
EQAS Report - 2001
(PDF document, 140 KB)
 
EQAS Report - 2000
EQAS Report - 2000
(PDF document, 134 KB)
 
 
 
Eligibility to participate
 
The WHO-GFN EQAS is open to all national reference laboratories in the Global Foodborne Infections Network.
 
Fees 
 
Participation in the EQAS is free of charge for laboratories participating in the GFN. However, if your country claims taxes or customs fees this will be on the participating laboratory's expenses. 
 
How to participate 
 
Participants who wish to sign up to the WHO-GFN EQAS do so through a web-based database. Members of the Global Foodborne Infections Network will receive an invitation to sign up when the sign-up database opens. The sign-up for WHO-GFN EQAS 2009 has passed the deadline.

 
If you are a national reference laboratory and wish to take part in the EQAS but are not part of WHO-GFN, you must first join the WHO-GFN. You may send your request in either of the following ways:
  • E-mail the GFN listserver at GlobalSalm-Surv@listserv.cdc.gov or
  • Fax your request to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Fax +1 404 371 5444 attn. Global Foodborne Infections Network

Your message should contain the following information: "Yes, we would like to participate in the WHO-GFN"

  • Laboratory Name
  • Contact Person's Name
  • Mailing Address for shipping isolates
  • Telephone
  • Fax
  • E-mail  
 
Information regarding WHO EQAS 2009
 
Relevant protocol and materials regarding this year's WHO-GFN EQAS can be found below. 
 
The database for uploading results can be accessed through this link: http://thor.dfvf.dk/eqas (restricted access, username and password required)
 
Protocol for WHO EQAS 2009
Protocol for WHO EQAS 2009
(PDF document, 70 KB)
 
 
Test forms for WHO EQAS 2009
Test forms for WHO EQAS 2009
(Word document, 1.1 MB)