Evaluation of tests for infectious mononucleosis through proficiency testing

Area of Science:

• Clinical diagnostics
• Immunology
• Infectious diseases

Background:

• Infectious mononucleosis (IM) diagnosis relies on specific laboratory tests.
• Evaluating the performance of various IM diagnostic tests is crucial for clinical laboratories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of two standard and ten slide tests for infectious mononucleosis.
• To identify factors correlating with improved performance in IM diagnostic testing.

Main Methods:

• Evaluation of 12 infectious mononucleosis tests (2 standard, 10 slide tests) across 50 state laboratories and 2 referee laboratories.
• Modification of a state proficiency testing program to collect comprehensive evaluation data.
• Determination of sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility, and percent agreement with target results for each test.

Main Results:

• Performance metrics including sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility were determined for all evaluated IM tests.
• Analysis identified specific factors that correlated with superior performance in infectious mononucleosis diagnostic assays.
• Variability in test performance was observed across different diagnostic methods and laboratory settings.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a comparative analysis of infectious mononucleosis diagnostic tests commonly used in clinical practice.
• Understanding factors influencing test performance can aid in selecting the most reliable diagnostic methods for IM.
• Proficiency testing is essential for maintaining accuracy and consistency in infectious mononucleosis diagnosis.