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The CDC VITAL-EQA program, external quality assurance for serum retinol, 2003-2006
Bridgette M H Haynes1, Rosemary L Schleicher, Ram B Jain
1Battelle, Atlanta, GA 30341, United States; U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, United States.
Insights
The VITamin A Laboratory-External Quality Assurance (VITAL-EQA) program improves global vitamin A testing. This external quality assurance helps laboratories accurately measure serum retinol, crucial for combating deficiency in children.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Laboratory Science
- Nutritional Epidemiology
Background:
- Vitamin A deficiency affects 127 million preschool children globally.
- Accurate measurement of serum retinol is vital for monitoring deficiency and program effectiveness.
- The VITAL-EQA program was established to support laboratories in less developed countries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess and improve the accuracy and precision of serum retinol measurements in participating laboratories.
- To provide external quality assurance for nutritional indicator testing worldwide.
Main Methods:
- Laboratories analyze serum samples in duplicate over three days, twice annually.
- Results are submitted for review, with troubleshooting provided as needed.
- The program evaluates measurement accuracy and precision (coefficient of variation).
Main Results:
- Consistent acceptable performance in accuracy was observed for most laboratories participating in multiple rounds.
- Measurement accuracy improved in 2 laboratories and declined in 2.
- Precision improved for 7 laboratories, declined for 4, and remained excellent (
Conclusions:
- The VITAL-EQA program is an effective tool for enhancing retinol testing capabilities globally.
- The program aids in improving laboratory performance for accurate nutritional assessments.
- Continued participation supports the global effort to combat vitamin A deficiency.
Background:
With approximately 127 million preschool children currently suffering from vitamin A deficiency globally, it is important for affected countries to have the capacity to determine the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and to monitor the progress being made to eradicate this problem through supplementation and fortification programs. The VITamin A Laboratory-External Quality Assurance program (VITAL-EQA) administered by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was developed in 2003 to help predominantly less developed countries to assess and improve their ability to accurately and precisely measure serum retinol, and more recently other nutritional indicators.
Methods:
Twice each year, laboratories test serum samples in duplicate over the course of 3 days. Results are returned and troubleshooting is performed if needed.
Results:
Measurement accuracy improved for 2 laboratories and declined for 2 laboratories, whereas the remainder of laboratories participating in >1 round showed consistently acceptable performance. Precision improved for 7 laboratories, declined for 4 laboratories, and remained at
Conclusions:
This program is a valuable tool for the assessment and improvement of retinol testing in laboratories throughout the world.
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