Performance of International External Quality Assessment Scheme Participant Laboratories in Ethiopia (2016-2018)

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate international external quality assessment scheme (IEQAS) program participant laboratories in Ethiopia. Acceptable performance was defined as any proficiency testing (PT) score 80% and above. The retrospective PT database was reviewed and analyzed to assess the testing performance of the participating laboratories and the impact of the program over time. A total of 173, 275 and 334 laboratories participated in the EQA program in 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively; enrollment increased from 173 laboratories in 2016 to 334 in 2018. As a result, the overall participation rate is 41% whereas failure to participate accounts 52.2% and the rest are due to reagent stock out, equipment down and test suspended during the test event; among the total PT challenges distributed and performed, the rate of scoring ACC were 66.00%, 67.61%, 67.22%, 67.35%, 67.48% and 70.87% in event 2, 3 of 2015, event 1, 2, 3 of 2016 and event 1 of 2017 respectively. Using 95% confidence interval with the hypothesized proportion of ≥ 80% to be acceptable by the ISO standard. One sample proportion test calculation showed the result generated from the laboratory is not significantly meet the standard requirement P value <0.05. The present evaluation conclude that IEQAS program in Ethiopia is not utilized for improvement in the quality of laboratory diagnostic services over time across the six PT events. The laboratory result generated from the Health facilities in Ethiopia is significantly out of the standard.