This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Chappel, R. J. Articles by Hartskeerl, R. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Chappel, R. J. Articles by Hartskeerl, R. A.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, December 2004, p. 5484-5488, Vol. 42, No. 12
0095-1137/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.42.12.5484-5488.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Impact of Proficiency Testing on Results of the Microscopic Agglutination Test for Diagnosis of Leptospirosis

R. J. Chappel,^1* M. Goris,² M. F. Palmer,³ and R. A. Hartskeerl²

National Serology Reference Laboratory, Australia, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia,¹ Leptospirosis Reference Centre (WHO/FAO/OIE), Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,² Leptospira Reference Unit, County Hospital, Hereford, United Kingdom³

Received 20 May 2004/ Returned for modification 6 July 2004/ Accepted 15 August 2004

A proficiency testing scheme for the leptospirosis microscopic agglutination test was provided to 37 laboratories in 23 countries in 2002 (round 1) and to 60 laboratories in 34 countries in 2003 (round 2). Thirty-four laboratories participated in both rounds. Each panel consisted of five rabbit serum samples, four of which were antisera raised against pathogenic serovars of Leptospira. One of these samples was a mixture of two different antisera. The rates of false-negative results, calculated on the basis of the assumption that serovars within a serogroup will cross-react, were 11% for round 1 and 14% for round 2. There were regional differences in the rates of false-negative results. The titers reported by laboratories testing for the same sample with the same serovar varied widely. Laboratories that had previously participated in round 1 reported fewer false-negative results in round 2 than new participants (10 and 21%, respectively [P = 0.002]) and reported 0.56 false-negative results per participant, whereas new participants reported 1.23 false-negative results per participant (P = 0.041). Laboratories that had previously participated also reported fewer false-negative results in round 2 than in round 1 when samples common to both rounds were tested (5 and 15%, respectively [P = 0.028]). The titers reported by the new participants were, on average, lower than those reported by the laboratories that had participated previously (P = 0.019) and were significantly more variable (P = 0.001). Analysis of these results suggests a positive impact of proficiency testing on the testing performance of the participating laboratories.

---

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: National Serology Reference Laboratory, Australia, 4th Floor, Healy Building, 41 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia. Phone: 61 3 9418 1115. Fax: 61 3 9418 1155. E-mail: roderick{at}nrl.gov.au.

---

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, December 2004, p. 5484-5488, Vol. 42, No. 12
0095-1137/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.42.12.5484-5488.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Doungchawee, G., Kositanont, U., Niwetpathomwat, A., Inwisai, T., Sagarasaeranee, P., Haake, D. A. (2008). Early Diagnosis of Leptospirosis by Immunoglobulin M Immunoblot Testing. CVI 15: 492-498 [Abstract] [Full Text]