Lab Med Qual Assur.  2020 Dec;42(4):177-182. 10.15263/jlmqa.2020.42.4.177.

Report of the Korean Association of External Quality Assessment Service on Clinical Parasitology (2018–2019)

• Jeon S
• Won EJ
• Lee YJ
• Kim MJ
• Shin MG
• Shin JH

• KMID: 2510299
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15263/jlmqa.2020.42.4.177

Abstract

Annual proficiency surveys are conducted 3 times a year (2018–2019) by the Korean Association of External Quality Assessment Service. In addition to the image samples (MPI-18-01–08; MPI-19-01–08), the pre-made slide samples (MPS-18-01 and MPS-19-01) were included. Image samples were prepared to target parasites that were clinically or epidemiologically important in Korea, although they were not usually found in recent times. The pre-made slide samples targeting the prevalent parasites in Korea were prepared using the formalin-ether concentration method. The overall agreement rates were 98.3% in 2018 and 97.6% in 2019. The agreement rates were significantly lower for the MPS samples than for the MPI samples (97.9%–98.9% vs.92.3%–94.6%, MPI vs. MPS samples, P<0.01, in both). Above all, MPI-19-03 (Giardia lamblia) showed the lowest agreement rate (91.9%), indicating a lack of experience in the inspection of clinical laboratories. In addition, ectoparasites (Sarcoptes scabiei) and blood/mosquito-mediated parasites (Plasmodium vivax) that were recognized with clinical relevance in Korea were included in this survey. Based on our expanded survey of clinical parasitology, it should be accompanied by continuous education on various parasitic infections, which may overcome the lack of experience in the inspection of clinical laboratories.

Keyword

Quality control; Parasitology; Ectoparasite