Performance of Microscopy for the Diagnosis of Malaria and Human African Trypanosomiasis by Diagnostic Laboratories in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Results of a Nation-Wide External Quality Assessment

PloS One
Pierre MukadiJan Jacobs

Abstract

The present External Quality Assessment (EQA) assessed microscopy of blood parasites among diagnostic laboratories in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The EQA addressed 445 participants in 10/11 provinces (October 2013-April 2014). Participants were sent a panel of five slides and asked to return a routinely stained slide which was assessed for quality of preparation and staining. Response rate was 89.9% (400/445). For slide 1 (no parasites), 30.6% participants reported malaria, mostly Plasmodium falciparum. Only 11.0% participants reported slide 2 (Plasmodium malariae) correctly, 71.0% reported "malaria" or "Plasmodium falciparum" (considered acceptable). Slide 3 contained Plasmodium falciparum (109/μl) and Trypanosoma brucei brucei trypomastigotes: they were each reported by 32.5% and 16.5% participants respectively, 6.0% reported both. Slide 4 (Trypanosoma) was recognised by 44.9% participants. Slide 5 (Plasmodium ovale) was correctly reported by 6.2% participants, another 68.8% replied "malaria" or "Plasmodium falciparum" (considered acceptable). Only 13.6% of routine slides returned were correctly prepared and stained. The proportion of correct/acceptable scores for at least 4/5 slides was higher among EQA-experienced...Continue Reading

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Citations

May 17, 2017·Clinical Microbiology and Infection : the Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases·B BarbéJ Jacobs
Feb 8, 2018·Journal of Parasitology Research·Megbaru AlemuBayeh Abera
Sep 14, 2018·PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases·Epco HaskerErick Mwamba Miaka
Nov 5, 2016·PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases·Marleen Boelaert, UNKNOWN NIDIAG Consortium
Sep 8, 2017·Frontiers in Public Health·Joseph Joel PollakSeth J Salpeter
Mar 17, 2018·Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials·Mamadou Alpha DialloDaouda Ndiaye
Mar 27, 2019·Scientific Reports·Ailie RobinsonColin J Sutherland
Sep 10, 2018·The Lancet Global Health·Margaret E KrukMuhammad Pate
May 23, 2021·The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy·Laurent DembeleAbdoulaye A Djimde
Jul 6, 2021·Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology·Alba Marina GimenezDaniel Youssef Bargieri
Aug 12, 2021·Clinical Microbiology Reviews·Madeleine J RogersCatherine A Gordon

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
light microscopy

Software Mentioned

STATA
Excel
EQA

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