1 – Program overview

This external quality assessment program is designed to assess the performances of different bacterial identification tests and susceptibility tests (determination of resistance mechanisms), but also for some of the surveys to assess urine cytology and bacterial count methods, as well as the performance of microbiology culture media.

Statistical reports are sent with supporting comments from the expert clinical biologists / program coordinators.

Program limited to metropolitan France.

2 – Assessment frequency

Number of surveys per year: 4
Number of control samples per survey: 2
Number of samples per year: 8 (2 samples for urine culture, 2 samples for urine cytology and 4 bacterial strains)

3 – List of analytes assessed

• Bacterial identification
• Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (antibiogram)
• Resistance mechanism
• Urine cytology: leukocyturia, haematuria on urinary samples (manual and/or automated methods).

4 – Description of the control samples

Ready-to-use control samples: 2 samples for urine culture, 2 samples for urine cytology and 4 bacterial strains.

5 – Clinical context

The 2 urine culture samples include a clinical context, based on which participants are invited to provide an overall interpretation of the results. This interpretation is also commented on in the reports.

The 4 bacterial strains come with a clinical context, allowing laboratories to adapt their culture conditions.