Organisation of proficiency testing for plant health diagnostic tests: the experience of FAPAS~R

摘要

Proficiency testing (PT) is an established quality assurance measure and is based on the comparison of laboratories' results in an inter-laboratory trial. It highlights problems in laboratory analysis and is an educational tool to help improve data quality. This article describes how PT is organised by FAPAS~R. FAPAS~R is an international PT provider (external quality assessments) for food chemistry, food microbiology, genetically modified material and water/environmental samples. Since 2007, FAPAS~Rhave organized plant health proficiency tests in conjunction with the Plant Pest and Disease Identification Programme at the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera). Up until 2009, FAPAS~R has organised seven plant health proficiency tests that covered the identification of lyophi-lised bacteria, viruses in leaves and fungi in agar plugs. In 2009, FAPAS~R organized over 10 plant health proficiency tests under the banner of 'PhytoPAS', including Potato spindle tuber viroid, Phytophthora ramorum, Thrips palmi, Erwinia amylovora, Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepe-donicus, etc. DNA extracts, cyst nematodes (Globodera pallida) and slides/immunofluorescence (IF) slides have been added to the programme. The organization of the plant health proficiency tests follows a similar pattern. Suitable test materials are prepared and tested for quality before distribution to requesting participants. Laboratories usually have 1-2 months to analyze their samples and return their results. A report is then compiled for issue to laboratories and these contain all results in an anonymous form, so that laboratories can compare their results with those of other participants. If a laboratory's performance is unsatisfactory then it is up to them to investigate the situation. Thus, the primary purpose of PT is the detection of inaccuracy in a laboratory's results, so that they can investigate the problems and initiate corrective procedures.