External Quality Assessment (EQA) for SARS-CoV-2 RNA Point-of-Care Testing in Primary Healthcare Services: Analytical Performance over Seven EQA Cycles.

Publication date: May 26, 2024

In April 2020, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander COVID-19 Point-of-Care (POC) Testing Program was initiated to improve access to rapid molecular-based SARS-CoV-2 detection in First Nations communities. At capacity, the program reached 105 health services across Australia. An external review estimated the program contributed to averting between 23,000 and 122,000 COVID-19 infections within 40 days of the first infection in a remote community, equating to cost savings of between AU$337 million and AU$1. 8 billion. Essential to the quality management of this program, a customised External Quality Assessment (EQA) program was developed with the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Programs (RCPAQAP). From July 2020 to May 2022, SARS-CoV-2 EQA participation ranged from 93 to 100%. Overall concordance of valid EQA results was high (98%), with improved performance following the first survey. These results are consistent with those reported by 12 Australian and 4 New Zealand laboratories for three SARS-CoV-2 RNA EQA surveys in March 2020, demonstrating that SARS-CoV-2 RNA POC testing in primary care settings can be performed to an equivalent laboratory analytical standard. More broadly, this study highlights the value of quality management practices in real-world testing environments and the benefits of ongoing EQA program participation.

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Concepts	Keywords
April	analytical performance
Australia	COVID-19
Healthcare	first nations communities
July	Point-of-Care (POC) testing
	primary healthcare
	quality assessment
	quality assurance
	remote
	ribonucleic acid (RNA)

Semantics

Type	Source	Name
disease	IDO	quality
disease	MESH	COVID-19
disease	MESH	infections
disease	IDO	infection
drug	DRUGBANK	Coenzyme M
disease	VO	time
disease	VO	device
disease	MESH	sexually transmitted infection
drug	DRUGBANK	Etoperidone
disease	VO	organization
disease	MESH	infectious diseases
disease	VO	USA
disease	IDO	process
disease	IDO	infectivity
disease	IDO	assay
disease	VO	manufacturer
disease	IDO	production
disease	VO	volume
disease	VO	frequency
disease	VO	storage
disease	VO	gene
drug	DRUGBANK	Factor IX Complex (Human)
disease	IDO	site
disease	VO	report
disease	MESH	emergency
drug	DRUGBANK	Trestolone
disease	MESH	Influenza
disease	VO	Respiratory syncytial virus
disease	VO	effective
pathway	REACTOME	Translation
disease	MESH	ARC
drug	DRUGBANK	3 7 11 15-Tetramethyl-Hexadecan-1-Ol
drug	DRUGBANK	Huperzine B
drug	DRUGBANK	Vorinostat
disease	VO	Chlamydia
disease	VO	inactivation
disease	VO	Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

Original Article

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