External quality assessment for clinical microbiological laboratories in Norway 1983

The external quality assessment scheme for clinical microbiology (EQA-M) used in Norway in 1983 is described and the results are evaluated. Altogether three distributions, each consisting of 3--4 simulated clinical specimens, were carried out. All specimens were distributed as "open" tests (identifiable by the participants as EQA-M tests), but two were also simultaneously distributed as "blind" tests (not identifiable by the participants as EQA-M tests). The EQA-M in 1983 has revealed some problem areas concerning the isolation, identification and reporting procedures, the more important being: The clinical information given seems often to be ignored The reported priorities of different microorganisms recovered from one specimen often seem to be accidental rather than the results of thorough considerations The isolation rates of Shigella sp and Yersinia enterocolitica from faecal specimens are too low A great number of laboratories seem to overestimate the quantities of bacteria in dip-slide cultures.