Publication Date
8-1-2024
Journal
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
DOI
10.1371/journal.pntd.0012404
PMID
39116195
PMCID
PMC11335160
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
8-8-2024
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques, Humans, Animals, Helminthiasis, Feces, Soil, Schistosomiasis, Schistosoma, Helminths, Sensitivity and Specificity, Molecular Diagnostic Techniques
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Infections with soil-transmitted helminths (STH) and schistosomiasis (SCH) result in a significant global health burden, particularly in rural communities in low and middle-income countries. While microscopy remains the primary diagnostic method for STH and SCH in resource-limited settings, nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are gaining prominence as tools for evaluation of public health control programs in endemic countries, and individual diagnosis in high-income countries. Despite the high sensitivity and specificity of NAATs, previous research has highlighted inter-laboratory variations, both in technical and clinical performance, justifying the need for continuous proficiency testing.
METHODOLOGY: Results from 5 rounds over a 5-year period of the so far only longitudinal international Helminth External Molecular Quality Assessment Scheme (HEMQAS), coordinated by the Dutch Foundation for Quality Assessment in Medical Laboratories (SKML), were examined in order to (i) assess the diagnostic proficiency of laboratories in detecting helminths in stool and (ii) identify potential factors contributing to variations in performance.
OUTCOME AND CONCLUSIONS: Thirty-six laboratories, from 18 countries and 5 continents, participated in HEMQAS. The overall diagnostic performances were satisfying, with remarkably low numbers (
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