Influenza. The highly contagious, debilitating, potential fatal disease is a worldwide problem. A simple sneeze can spread the disease to many, and the demand for accurate diagnosis is a pressure felt by many pathology laboratories. Accuracy in routine testing can be assured using adjunct testing such as quality assurance. RCPAQAP offers modules for the detection and identification of influenza using a number of different assays including point of care tests, traditional serological assays and molecular techniques. A review of results from 2016 was undertaken to review the accuracy of influenza detection and identification using various methods available to laboratories.
Review of the Point of Care Influenza module showed up to 64 participants using a variety of devices to identify influenza A and B. There was an accuracy rate of 96% for A/H1N1pdm, 100% for A/H3N2 and 100% for Influenza B. There was one false positive result returned.
Review of the Serology Influenza module showed 15 participants using traditional assays such as CFT, IFA and EIA to detect influenza. There was an accuracy rate of 91% for influenza A. There were two false ‘significant’ results returned.
Review of the Molecular Influenza module showed up to 64 participants using a variety of methods for the nucleic detection of influenza. 93% used the QA to detect and differentiate Influenza A and B with 66% further characterising the strains of influenza A with 94-100% accuracy.
Overall, the review shows that there are many laboratories performing a variety of testing for influenza and it is important that laboratories not only choose the type of testing they perform, relevant to the situation, but that they can perform this testing accurately to deliver the most accurate results to patients. The performance of QA is a good way to assure test performance and quality of results.