Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38992942›Full record

ArticleInfluenza and other respiratory viruses2024

External Quality Assessment Program for SARS-COV-2 Molecular Detection in Pakistan.

Nazish Badar, Aamer Ikram, Muhammad Salman, Sidra Saeed, Hamza Ahmed Mirza, Abdul Ahad, Asiya Ashraf, Umer Farooq

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Influenza and other respiratory viruses, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Nazish BadarPublic Health Laboratories Division, National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan.ORCID 0000-0002-2329-7877
Aamer IkramExecutive Director Office, National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Muhammad SalmanPublic Health Laboratories Division, National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Sidra SaeedPublic Health Laboratories Division, National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Hamza Ahmed MirzaPublic Health Laboratories Division, National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Abdul AhadPublic Health Laboratories Division, National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan.ORCID 0000-0001-7953-0458
Asiya AshrafPublic Health Laboratories Division, National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Umer FarooqAnimal Sciences Institute, National Agricultural Research Center, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Funding

World Health Organization
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionAmid coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, accurate detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is critical for diagnosis management and breaking down transmission chains. We designed a national external quality assessment panel (EQAP) for SARS-CoV-2 molecular detection comprising working laboratories nationwide.

methodsA molecular diagnostic EQA panel that consists of five samples for SARS CoV-2 testing was distributed to 141 public and private sector laboratories across country. These samples contain different concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 to evaluate the sensitivity of commercial kits available.

resultsSensitivity among public and private sector laboratories was variable, particularly lower SARS-CoV-2 concentrations significantly increased the risk of false-negative tests, whereas Ct values of accurately tested SARS-CoV-2 specimens increased as concentration decreased. These findings highlighted that performance of used commercial kits was not significantly correlated to various extraction or PCR methods.

conclusionThis study highlights the need for a national external quality assessment panel (EQAP) in the country to improve the quality of the healthcare system while ensuring the accuracy and reliability of results. Furthermore, EQAPs can help laboratories meet accreditation and regulatory requirements. However, continued participation in EQAP is recommended for quality enhancement of laboratories.

Indexed as

COVID-19SARS-CoV-2COVID-19 Nucleic Acid TestingCOVID-19 TestingHumansMolecular Diagnostic TechniquesPakistanQuality Assurance, Health CareSensitivity and Specificityexternal quality assurancePakistanSARS CoV‐2

Identifiers

PMID38992942
PMCPMC11239755

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.