The Importance of External Quality Assessment in the COVID-19 Pandemic

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in early 2020, it rapidly transformed the global landscape, making the demand for accurate and reliable testing more crucial than ever for managing the health crisis. 

At UK NEQAS, we spearheaded the COVID antibody EQA initiative and became the first EQA provider worldwide to achieve ISO 17043 accreditation. This scheme was rapidly developed in response to the pandemic, launched within four weeks, and accredited within twelve weeks. Continue reading to discover more about the importance of EQA during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is COVID-19?

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Most people infected will experience mild to moderate respiratory symptoms and recover without requiring special treatment. However, some individuals, particularly the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer, may become seriously ill and require medical attention.

COVID-19 spreads when an infected person exhales droplets and tiny particles containing the virus. Others can inhale these droplets and particles, or the droplets and particles can come into contact with their eyes, nose, or mouth.

The Background of External Quality Assessment and COVID-19

The purpose of External Quality Assessment (EQA) is to objectively assess the effectiveness of laboratory testing. In an EQA program, identical sample batches are distributed to various laboratories across different countries to verify the consistency and reliability of their testing procedures. EQA allows external bodies to acknowledge laboratory testing performance and helps to increase confidence in test results. 

Reliable SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic assays are crucial for controlling COVID-19 infections and outbreaks. In late 2020 and early 2021, many countries integrated antibody tests, including laboratory-based and point-of-care (PoC) tests such as lateral flow rapid antigen tests (LFTs), into their testing strategies to complement molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2.

This testing become an essential tool in combating the pandemic in the early stages, and as the availability of tests increased, it became vital to conduct independent and comprehensive comparative evaluations. These evaluations, using data from external quality assessment studies, compare the performance of tests across different users, ensuring accuracy and reliability.

Challenges Faced by Laboratories During the Pandemic

During the height of the pandemic, laboratories faced increased testing demands to identify and contain affected individuals, as well as to delay and mitigate the spread of the disease. 

Other challenges laboratories faced included sourcing reagents and testing kits. As a result, they resorted to running different assays on multiple testing platforms, adding complexity to testing, quality control, and validation of results. This therefore demonstrates the necessity for regular participation in an EQA program.

EQA at UK NEQAS IIA

At UK NEQAS IIA, we offer an independent EQA service for clinical laboratories worldwide, focusing on performance quality to ensure greater confidence in patient test results. We enable laboratories to benchmark their testing procedures against those of other laboratories worldwide, providing reassurance to both staff and clients.

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