Parasitic diseases continue to pose significant public health challenges, particularly in endemic regions where timely and accurate diagnosis is critical for patient diagnosis, management, surveillance, and control programs. The foundation of strengthening any diagnostic laboratory is by quality assurance (QA), as it enhances the confidence of the treating doctor and patient. The accurate diagnosis relies on quality systems. Both internal quality control (IQC) and external quality assessment (EQA) should be included in a well-organized parasitology QA program.[1] IQC ensures that the routine operations of processing, staining, microscopy, serology, and molecular assays stay within reasonable limits. EQA, through interlaboratory comparison and proficiency testing, helps assess diagnostic accuracy and scope of correction and improvement. Together, these mechanisms ensure reproducibility and reliability of results.
Another important component of quality is the standardization and robustness of its protocols and techniques. This includes all processes of specimen collection and storage to processing, interpretation, and reporting. Variations in technique may lead to missed or overdiagnoses or misidentification. Adoption of standard operating procedures, adherence to biosafety practices, and regular staff competency assessments are therefore critical.
Capacity building is another important principle of QA. To address skill deficiencies and maintain diagnostic accuracy among laboratories, continuous education, refresher training, and the integration of digital technologies for image-based competency evaluation are suggested. Laboratories should invest in extensive training for laboratory personnel on advanced techniques, interpretation of results, and the safe handling of infectious specimens.
Ultimately, QA in parasitology laboratories is not just a technical requirement but a professional and ethical obligation. Accurate results have a direct impact on patient care, influence public health policies, and contribute to global efforts against neglected tropical diseases. As the field advances with newer molecular platforms and automated systems, embedding QA principles in laboratory functioning will remain the key to credibility and trust. Institutes and professional bodies like the Indian Academy of Tropical Parasitology and other professional bodies like the International Organization of Standardization can be instrumental by providing guidance, implementing EQA programs, and assisting peripheral laboratories.[2,3,4]
The July–December 2025 issue of Tropical Parasitology highlights the Presidential Oration on advances in the diagnosis of parasitic diseases, a review on hemoparasitic diseases, original research papers on recurrent malaria, malaria and inflammatory biomarkers, parasitic etiology of chronic diarrhea, Acanthamoeba keratitis, and molecular diagnosis of giardiasis. In addition, this issue includes the IATP guidelines for the laboratory diagnosis of endemic hemoptysis. In addition, some more interesting case reports and commentary on pseudoparasites are included. An email interview with Dr Bontha Babu, Director, ICMR, National Institute for Implementation Research for NCD, Jodhpur, India, is featured.
I hope the readers will enjoy reading the current issue.
REFERENCES
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