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First international external quality assessment scheme of nucleic acid amplification tests for the detection of Schistosoma and soil-transmitted helminths, including Strongyloides
- Source :
- PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 14(6). PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE, PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases (print), 14(6):e0008231. Public Library of Science, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 14, Iss 6, p e0008231 (2020), PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Background Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are increasingly being used as diagnostic tools for soil-transmitted helminths (STHs; Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale and A. ceylanicum), Strongyloides stercoralis and Schistosoma in human stool. Currently, there is a large diversity of NAATs being applied, but an external quality assessment scheme (EQAS) for these diagnostics is lacking. An EQAS involves a blinded process where test results reported by a laboratory are compared to those reported by reference or expert laboratories, allowing for an objective assessment of the diagnostic performance of a laboratory. In the current study, we piloted an international EQAS for these helminths (i) to investigate the feasibility of designing and delivering an EQAS; (ii) to assess the diagnostic performance of laboratories; and (iii) to gain insights into the different NAAT protocols used. Methods and principal findings A panel of twelve stool samples and eight DNA samples was validated by six expert laboratories for the presence of six helminths (Ascaris, Trichuris, N. americanus, Ancylostoma, Strongyloides and Schistosoma). Subsequently this panel was sent to 15 globally dispersed laboratories. We found a high degree of diversity among the different DNA extraction and NAAT protocols. Although most laboratories performed well, we could clearly identify the laboratories that were poorly performing. Conclusions/Significance We showed the technical feasibility of an international EQAS for the NAAT of STHs, Strongyloides and Schistosoma. In addition, we documented that there are clear benefits for participating laboratories, as they can confirm and/or improve the diagnostic performance of their NAATs. Further research should aim to identify factors that explain poor performance of NAATs.<br />Author summary Tests that detect parasite DNA in human stool are increasingly being used for the diagnosis of infections with intestinal worms, including schistosomiasis. To ensure the quality in diagnostic testing of these parasitic worms, it is important that laboratories evaluate the diagnostic performance of their DNA-based tests. This can best be achieved by participating in an external quality assessment scheme (EQAS). An EQAS involves a blinded process where test results reported by a laboratory are compared to those reported by reference or expert laboratories, allowing for an objective assessment of the diagnostic performance of a laboratory. Currently, such an EQAS for parasitic worms is lacking. We therefore piloted an international EQAS for the diagnosis of parasitic worms involving 15 laboratories in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. Although most laboratories performed well, we could clearly identify those laboratories that may need to improve their test protocol. We found that laboratories were using many different test protocols, and further research should aim to verify whether this has an impact on the performance of the diagnostic outcomes.
- Subjects :
- Male
0301 basic medicine
Laboratory Proficiency Testing
Research Facilities
Nematoda
RC955-962
Helminthiasis
Pilot Projects
Feces
0302 clinical medicine
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine
Strongyloides
Medicine and Health Sciences
Child
DNA extraction
MIGRANTS
biology
Eukaryota
Necator
Trichuris
Infectious Diseases
PCR
Molecular Diagnostic Techniques
Research Design
Ancylostoma duodenale
DISEASES
Schistosoma
Female
Public aspects of medicine
RA1-1270
Research Laboratories
BURDEN
Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques
Research Article
medicine.medical_specialty
Adolescent
030231 tropical medicine
Research and Analysis Methods
DIAGNOSIS
Strongyloides stercoralis
03 medical and health sciences
Extraction techniques
Helminths
External quality assessment
parasitic diseases
medicine
Animals
Humans
Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests
Medical physics
Veterinary Sciences
business.industry
Organisms
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Biology and Life Sciences
Pilot Studies
Nucleic acid amplification technique
biology.organism_classification
Invertebrates
030104 developmental biology
Ancylostoma
Hookworms
Necator Americanus
business
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19352735
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 14(6). PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE, PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases (print), 14(6):e0008231. Public Library of Science, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 14, Iss 6, p e0008231 (2020), PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....255c2a2a69e96d3678845f88f8231de2