Ariel, Ellen, Nicolajsen, Nicole, Skall, Helle Frank, Anderson, Jens Strodl, Madsen, Sanne, and Olesen, Niels Jørgen (2009) Proficiency testing of national reference laboratories for fish diseases. Aquaculture, 294 (3-4). pp. 153-158.

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Abstract

Part of the functions and duties of the European Community Reference Laboratory for Fish Diseases (CRL) is to organise periodic comparative tests of diagnostic procedures at Community level as described in Council Directive 2006/88/EC (Anonymous, 2006), previously outlined in Council Directive 93/53/EEC (Anonymous, 1993). A qualitative and quantitative proficiency test was carried out annually since 1996. These tests were primarily designed to assess the ability of participating laboratories to identify the listed viruses: viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) and infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) on list II in Council Directive 91/67/EEC, annex A (Anonymous, 1991). The tests have typically consisted of five coded ampoules of lyophilised supernatant from infected cell cultures. Participants were asked to identify and quantify the contents within a deadline of 8 weeks. The CRL collated the answers and processed them statistically and graphically to provide the individual laboratory with a unique picture of its performance in relation to the other participants. Each participant was assigned a code number to ensure discretion.

Occasionally the test was designed with additional purposes; other common fish viruses were included for differential diagnosis, cell line susceptibility within and between laboratories were tested, and the ability of laboratories to detect double infections and differentiate between genotypes was also part of the test. This paper describes the different approaches in designing the test over a 10-year period and comments on the overall performance of participants during that period.

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