Veterinary Proficiency Testing Program
ANQAP offers 37 tests for bacterial and viral diseases of animals. The tests available include agar gel immunodiffusion, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, virus neutralisation, complement fixation, virus isolation, bacterial culture, microscopic agglutination and polymerase chain reaction tests.
For the complete list of tests, please refer to the Test Timetable.
For each proficiency test, a panel of samples is sent to each participating laboratory for testing. The panel is comprised of six samples with at least one negative, one low positive and one high positive sample, if available, to reflect a range of results likely to be found in routine diagnostic testing. Laboratories are encouraged to treat the panel as diagnostic specimens and include them within the routine testing schedule.
The laboratory is given approximately 4 weeks to test and report results. ANQAP collate the results and prepare a report summarizing the results of all laboratories. The ANQAP report includes statistical analysis (where appropriate and applicable) and a classification of the results. Results that fall within an acceptable variation range (AVR) are classified as satisfactory. If the results demonstrate variation, the laboratory is given the opportunity to retest a fresh vial of the same sample (where available). Following retesting, the result is classified as either retest satisfactory, retest demonstrating minor variation or retest unacceptable. Laboratories receiving an unacceptable classification are encouraged to take corrective action.
The design of the program meets the requirements of our NATA Accreditation.
National Plant Health Proficiency Testing Program (NPHPTP)
The bacteria, fungi, nematode and invertebrate specimens are supplied to participants for identification. Participants are required to identify the pathogen to the level usually provided by the laboratory. For example, a laboratory may only identify some invertebrates to genus level. For that laboratory, correctly identifying the specimen to genus level will result in a ‘Concordant’ classification.
The virus and phytoplasma panels usually include six specimens that are either positive or negative for the target agent which is changed annually. Participants are required to correctly identify which samples are positive and which are negative.
For the complete list of plant tests, please refer to the NPHPTP Test Schedule.
The structure of this testing is in line with that of the veterinary program, with allowances made for sample acquisition.
