Infokiri

Tähelepanu! Tegemist on väljastpoolt asutust saabunud kirjaga. Tundmatu saatja korral palume linke ja faile mitte avada.

 Subject: WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) External Quality Assessment Programme (EQAP) - Panel 23 (2024)

From: Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, Hong Kong, China (CHP)
On behalf of: Global Influenza Programme, World Health Organization (WHO)

Dear colleagues,

Your laboratory is invited to participate in this EQAP free of charge: https://www.who.int/teams/global-influenza-programme/laboratory-network/eqa-project.
We expect to send out the samples in June-August 2024.

This panel comprises components (1), (2) and (3) below:
(1) RT-PCR panel: Fifteen samples of dried inactivated contemporary influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses.
   - Participants must test all samples for either (a) or (b), or both:
(a) influenza A and B virus detection, and influenza A H1pdm09 and H3 subtyping;
(b) SARS-CoV-2 detection.
- Reporting of other results in addition to those required above is optional but score will be deducted if incorrect results are reported.

(2) Antiviral susceptibility testing panel: Dried inactivated influenza viruses, including one set of four samples for phenotypic and another set of four samples for genotypic testing
   - This component is optional, but returned results will be scored. Genotypic results apart from neuraminidase gene are welcome but will not be scored.

(3) Sequencing panel (optional and for educational purpose only): Two samples of dried inactivated influenza viruses
   - Participants are expected to submit full genome consensus in FASTA format and perform HA gene clade designation according to their routine practice.

All EQAP samples should be processed as routine samples and test results are expected to be reported within 4 weeks of receipt. Each participating laboratory will be identified by a code. Results and laboratory code will be shared with WHO (headquarters, Regional and Country Offices), but will not be revealed to third parties without permission in advance from your laboratory. Please reply to this message by 10^th May 2024 to indicate which of the above three components your laboratory would like to participate in. In the meantime, please obtain an import permit and/or let us have any updated information as necessary.

Best regards,
CHP