Background:In resource-constrained settings, the majority of laboratories are not accredited to international standards and may only be partially implementing elements of a QMS. ICMR started an Inter -Laboratory Quality Control (ILQC) program for Covid-19 testing. Under this program, RT-PCR testing laboratories across the country send 10 Covid testing samples; five positive and five negative, quarterly to the assigned State Quality Control (SQCs) laboratories for ILQC testing. MAMC Covid-19 laboratory is one of the SQCs laboratory which receives samples for testing. We are presenting here ILQC results and experience of MAMC SQCs Laboratory.
Methods:In the duration from July through to November 2020 a total of 445 anonymized samples were received from 24 various public and private linked laboratories. These samples were processed by RT -PCR tests as per NIV protocol. Results were uploaded on the ICMR QC/QA portal to keep pace with the latest technical developments and to synchro- nize with the International Standards. ICMR QC/QA portal generated a final report stating concordance of the results to individual laboratories.
Results: Among 445 samples, three samples were rejected as leaked. A total of 442 samples tested. Of these samples, 317 Covid testing samples results are available till date from ICMR which were received in 25 different batches from 18 laboratories. Out of total 317 samples, 308 samples (97%) showed concordant results and 09 were discordant. A total of 19 sample batches showed complete concordance. Only 6 batches from different laboratories showed disagreement. Of these laboratories two laboratories were public and four private laboratories. A total of 12 laboratories had 100% con- cordance.
Conclusions:We concluded that majority of the laboratories approved by ICMR are performing with high concordance of results despite varied usage of kits and platforms