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

INTRODUCTION:Amid 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. METHODS:A 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. RESULTS:Sensitivity 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. CONCLUSION:This 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.