Table 2.
Grading of results for rounds 1, 2 and 3 of the SARS-CoV-2 proficiency testing program
| Round | RCPAQAP Sample ID |
Concordant | Discordant | Not assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (Mar 2020) | S1 | SARS-CoV-2 positive | SARS-CoV-2 negative SARS-CoV-2 presumptive positive Inconclusive |
Invalid Not tested |
| S2 | SARS-CoV-2 positive SARS-CoV-2 presumptive positive Inconclusive |
N/A | SARS-CoV-2 negative (recorded either SARS-CoV-2 N or E genes detected) Invalid Not tested |
|
| S3 | SARS-CoV-2 negative | SARS-CoV-2 positive SARS-CoV-2 presumptive positive Inconclusive |
Invalid Not tested |
|
| S4 | SARS-CoV-2 positive SARS-CoV-2 presumptive positive Inconclusive |
SARS-CoV-2 negative (recorded either SARS-CoV-2 N or E genes not detected) | Invalid Not tested |
|
| S5 | SARS-CoV-2 positive SARS-CoV-2 presumptive positive Inconclusive |
SARS-CoV-2 negative (recorded either SARS-CoV-2 N or E genes not detected) | Invalid Not tested |
|
| 2 (May 2020) | S6 | SARS-CoV-2 positive | SARS-CoV-2 negative SARS-CoV-2 presumptive positive Inconclusive |
Invalid Not tested |
| S7 | SARS-CoV-2 positive | SARS-CoV-2 negative SARS-CoV-2 presumptive positive Inconclusive |
Invalid Not tested |
|
| S8 | SARS-CoV-2 presumptive positive Inconclusive |
SARS-CoV-2 positive | SARS-CoV-2 negative Invalid Not tested |
|
| S9 | SARS-CoV-2 negative | SARS-CoV-2 positive SARS-CoV-2 presumptive positive Inconclusive |
Invalid Not tested |
|
| S10 | SARS-CoV-2 positive | SARS-CoV-2 negative SARS-CoV-2 presumptive positive Inconclusive |
Invalid Not tested |
|
| 3 (Nov 2020) | S11 | SARS-CoV-2 negative | SARS-CoV-2 positive SARS-CoV-2 presumptive positive |
Inconclusive (automated result generated by NAT assay)a Invalid Not tested |
| S12 | SARS-CoV-2 negative | SARS-CoV-2 positive SARS-CoV-2 presumptive positive |
Inconclusive (automated result generated by NAT assay)a Invalid Not tested |
|
| S13 | SARS-CoV-2 negative | SARS-CoV-2 positive SARS-CoV-2 presumptive positive |
Inconclusive (automated result generated by NAT assay)a Invalid Not tested |
|
| S14 | SARS-CoV-2 positive | SARS-CoV-2 negative SARS-CoV-2 presumptive positive Inconclusive |
Invalid Not tested |
|
| S15 | SARS-CoV-2 positive | SARS-CoV-2 negative SARS-CoV-2 presumptive positive Inconclusive |
Invalid Not tested |
a Inconclusive and invalid results reported by participants were based on a nucleic acid test (NAT) assay that included an internal control, i.e., tested for the presence of RNaseP. The lack of RNaseP target resulted in an inconclusive or invalid result. These results were either manually interpreted by the participant or reported as unresolved by the system. Other participants using similar assays had disregarded the results for the RNaseP while acknowledging the potential of inadequate or lack of human cellular material in a proficiency testing material. Some participants who performed testing on the BD MAX platform commented that while the automated result generated by the system of the platform was invalid, their submitted results were manually interpreted and reported as SARS-CoV-2 negative as the system requires the presence of RNase-P in the survey specimen to automatically interpret the results.