External quality assessment in serological diagnostic virology in Norway 1982-84

Serum specimens for external quality assessment in virology were sent as an open distribution to 10-13 clinical microbiological laboratories during the period 1982-84. Antibodies to rubella were tested by hemagglutination-inhibition (HI); other viral antibodies were tested by complement fixation (CF). The median of the antibody-titres for each annual batch of serum specimens is used to describe and evaluate the laboratory performance. Generally speaking the antibody titres in both tests were found to cover a wide range.