Results of Proficiency Testing for Trichinella in Poland, 2015–2019

Trichinellosis is a zoonotic meat-borne disease caused by the nematodes of the genus Trichinella. Meat containing live Trichinella larvae is a source of infection. The examination of meat for Trichinella was introduced in 1869, but the digestion method for this did not appear in Poland until the late 1970s. Nowadays, the meat of all food animals susceptible to Trichinella spp. is examined in the frame of official post mortem control with the digestion method. The majority of laboratories in Poland meet the requirements of the ISO/IEC 17025 Standard (352 field laboratories). Laboratory personnel participate in quality control programs. This paper presents the results of proficiency tests (PTs) organized within 2015–2019 in Poland. Over this period, the laboratories examined 7580 samples (contamination levels: zero, one, three, and five larvae). Each laboratory was provided with a set of samples (one negative and three positive). Over 95% of the samples were considered correct in qualitative assessments, though the results of the quantitative evaluations were slightly lower, with 89% of samples being considered correct. Based on a sample evaluation, 88% of laboratories passed the PT comparison. A slight decrease was observed in the examination of samples spiked with five larvae, and great progress was achieved in samples containing three larvae. Low levels of sample contamination are sought after in laboratories but may make evaluations difficult. For this reason, we must consider increasing the number of larvae added to the samples in the next PTs.

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The Use of Scan Statistics and Control Charts in Assessing Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Quality Control Programs

Journal of Healthcare Engineering ◽

10.1260/2040-2295.1.4.579 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 1 (4) ◽

pp. 579-593

Author(s):

Brian Nathanson ◽

Thomas Higgins

Keyword(s):

Quality Control ◽

Control Charts ◽

Scan Statistics ◽

Ventilator Associated Pneumonia ◽

Control Programs ◽

And Control

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Occurrence of Ochratoxin A Contamination and Detection of Ochratoxigenic Aspergillus Species in Retail Samples of Dried Fruits and Nuts

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-14-471 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 78 (4) ◽

pp. 836-842 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

JEFFREY D. PALUMBO ◽

TERESA L. O'KEEFFE ◽

YVONNE S. HO ◽

CARLO J. SANTILLAN

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Ochratoxin A ◽

The United States ◽

Aspergillus Species ◽

The European Union ◽

Dried Fruits ◽

Tree Nuts ◽

Low Levels ◽

Contamination Levels ◽

Potential Contaminant

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by several species of Aspergillus and Penicillium and is a potential contaminant of a wide variety of food products. To determine the incidence of OTA contamination in dried fruits and tree nuts, retail packaged and bulk raisins, dates, figs, prunes, almonds, pistachios, and walnuts were collected from small and large supermarkets in seven areas of the United States between 2012 and 2014. Of the 665 samples analyzed, OTA was detected in 48 raisin samples, 4 fig samples, 4 pistachio samples, and 1 date sample. OTA contamination levels ranged from 0.28 to 15.34 ng/g in dried fruits and 1.87 to 890 ng/g in pistachios; two raisin samples and one pistachio sample exceeded the European Union regulatory limit of 10 ng/g. PCR detection of potential OTA-producing Aspergillus species revealed the presence of A. niger, A. welwitschiae, and A. carbonarius in 20, 7, and 7 of the 57 OTA-contaminated samples, respectively. However, OTA-producing A. carbonarius was isolated from only one raisin sample, and no other OTA-producing Aspergillus species were found. These results suggest that raisins are more frequently contaminated with low levels of OTA than are other dried fruits and nuts and that Aspergillus species are the likely source of that contamination.

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microRNA in erythrocytes

Biochemical Society Transactions ◽

10.1042/bst0380229 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 229-231 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Andrew J. Hamilton

Keyword(s):

Quality Control ◽

Recent Work ◽

Total Content ◽

Human Erythrocytes ◽

Rna Quality ◽

Rna Quality Control ◽

Non Coding Rnas ◽

Low Levels ◽

External Signals

Mammalian erythrocytes are generally thought to lack RNA and therefore to be unable to translate new proteins in response to internal or external signals. Support for this long-standing view has accumulated from diverse studies, most of which have focused on the total content of RNA or the overall level of translation. However, more recent work on specific types of RNA has shown the presence in human erythrocytes of both Y RNA and microRNA. The latter seem particularly incongruous given that their normal role is to attenuate the translation of mRNA. Y RNA binds the Ro autoantigen which may have a role in cellular RNA quality control. Therefore the presence of both of these non-coding RNAs indicates the possible existence of other cryptic RNAs in erythrocytes. It also suggests either the existence of low levels of translation or new uncharacterized processes involving microRNA in these cells.

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Development of a centralized approach to conducting interlaboratory proficiency tests

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGIES OIL AND OIL PRODUCTS PIPELINE TRANSPORTATION ◽

10.28999/2541-9595-2021-11-4-428-434 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 428-434

Author(s):

Светлана Владимировна Габова ◽

Анастасия Александровна Трусагина ◽

Михаил Евгеньевич Артёмов

Keyword(s):

Quality Control ◽

Control System ◽

Oil Quality ◽

Third Party ◽

Quality Control System ◽

Proficiency Tests ◽

Testing Program ◽

Testing Laboratories ◽

Measurement Results ◽

Reliability Of Measurement Results

Важнейшим звеном системы контроля качества нефти являются испытательные лаборатории, от компетентности которых зависит достоверность результатов измерений и эффективность управленческих решений, принимаемых с учетом полученных данных. Одним из способов подтверждения достоверности результатов измерений является проверка квалификации лаборатории посредством ее участия в межлабораторных сличительных (сравнительных) испытаниях (МСИ). В настоящей статье рассмотрены вопросы проведения таких испытаний для лабораторий организаций системы «Транснефть». Описан действующий порядок, предполагающий участие лабораторий в МСИ в регионах своего местонахождения, при этом разработкой и реализацией программы проверки квалификации занимаются сторонние организации - провайдеры МСИ. Такая практика имеет существенные недостатки, не позволяя, в том числе, систематизировать и обобщить результаты МСИ для общей оценки деятельности испытательных лабораторий ПАО «Транснефть». В статье представлен централизованный подход к проведению МСИ в ПАО «Транснефть», устанавливающий единый порядок участия лабораторий в испытаниях с целью осуществления общей оценки квалификации лабораторий, своевременной разработки и реализации предупреждающих и корректирующих мероприятий по улучшению деятельности лабораторий, усовершенствования системы контроля качества нефти на объектах ПАО «Транснефть». The most important link in the oil quality control system are testing laboratories, the competence of which determines the reliability of measurement results and the effectiveness of management decisions based on the data obtained. One way to confirm the validity of measurement results is to verify the laboratory qualifications through its participation in interlaboratory proficiency (comparative) tests (IPT). This article considers the issues of such tests for the laboratories of Transneft system entities. The current procedure is described, which involves the participation of laboratories in the IPT in the regions of their location, while the development and implementation of the proficiency testing program is carried out by third-party IPT provider organizations. This practice has significant drawbacks, not allowing, among other things, to systematize and summarize the results of IPT for an overall assessment of the activities of Transneft PJSC’s testing laboratories. The article presents a centralized approach to conducting IPT in Transneft PJSC, which establishes a unified procedure for the participation of laboratories in tests in order to implement an overall assessment of laboratory qualification, timely development and implementation of preventive and corrective measures to improve the performance of laboratories and improve the oil quality control system at the Transneft PJSC facilities.

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Prevalence and geographical distribution of bovine cysticercosis in the mesoregion of Northern Minas Gerais

Revista Brasileira de Saúde e Produção Animal ◽

10.1590/s1519-99402121172020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 ◽

Author(s):

Laura Lúcia dos Santos OLIVEIRA ◽

Fredson Vieira e SILVA ◽

Cleison Augusto ALVES ◽

Leandro Farias BATISTA ◽

Franklin Delano dos Santos SOARES ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Health ◽

Geographical Distribution ◽

Minas Gerais ◽

Post Mortem ◽

Control Programs ◽

Bovine Cysticercosis ◽

Cysticercus Bovis

ABSTRACT The knowledge of the prevalence of bovine cysticercosis is important for the implementation of control programs. The objective was to evaluate the prevalence and geographical distribution of bovine cysticercosis in Northern Minas Gerais. For that, 14,556 cattle were evaluated during the federal post-mortem inspection in 27 municipalities of five microregions: Janaúba, Montes Claros, Januária, Pirapora and Bocaiúva. The prevalence of Cysticercus bovis was 1.03% with distribution in all microregions evaluated of the northern Minas Gerais. All municipalities with a sampling number of cattle slaughtered above 543 showed positive animals for cysticercosis. The microregions of Bocaiúva, Montes Claros, Janaúba, Januária and Pirapora presented a prevalence of cysticercosis at 2.11%, 1.17%, 1.01%, 0.90% and 0.56%, respectively. The microregions of Montes Claros and Januária presented a greater chance of finding positive cattle for cysticercosis. As there are positive cases of cysticercosis in all microregions evaluated, there is a risk to human health.

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Regression Estimates in Federal Welfare Quality Control Programs: Comment

Journal of the American Statistical Association ◽

10.2307/2290028 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 85 (411) ◽

pp. 866

Author(s):

S. James Press ◽

Judith M. Tanur

Keyword(s):

Quality Control ◽

Control Programs ◽

Welfare Quality

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Report on the status of the external quality-control programs for occupational-medical and environmental-medical toxicological analyses in biological materials in Germany

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health ◽

10.1007/s004200050336 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 72 (1) ◽

pp. 60-64 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

G. Lehnert ◽

K.-H. Schaller ◽

J. Angerer

Keyword(s):

Quality Control ◽

Biological Materials ◽

External Quality Control ◽

External Quality ◽

Control Programs ◽

The Status

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Implementation of a Blind Quality Control Program in Blood Alcohol Analysis

Journal of Analytical Toxicology ◽

10.1093/jat/bkz059 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 43 (8) ◽

pp. 630-636 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jackeline Moral ◽

Callan Hundl ◽

Dayong Lee ◽

Maddisen Neuman ◽

Aimee Grimaldi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Control ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Control Program ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Blood Alcohol ◽

Proficiency Tests ◽

Science Center ◽

Quality Control Program ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Difference

Abstract Declared proficiency tests are limited in their use for testing the performance of the entire system, because analysts are aware that they are being tested. A blind quality control (BQC) is intended to appear as a real case to the analyst to remove any intentional or subconscious bias. A BQC program allows a real-time assessment of the laboratory’s policies and procedures and monitors reliability of casework. In September 2015, the Houston Forensic Science Center (HFSC) began a BQC program in blood alcohol analysis. Between September 2015 and July 2018, HFSC submitted 317 blind cases: 89 negative samples and 228 positive samples at five target concentrations (0.08, 0.15, 0.16, 0.20 and 0.25 g/100 mL; theoretical targets). These blood samples were analyzed by a headspace gas chromatograph interfaced with dual-flame ionization detectors (HS-GC-FID). All negative samples produced `no ethanol detected’ results. The mean (range) of reported blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) for the aforementioned target concentrations was 0.075 (0.073–0.078), 0.144 (0.140–0.148), 0.157 (0.155–0.160), 0.195 (0.192–0.200) and 0.249 (0.242–0.258) g/100 mL, respectively. The average BAC percent differences from the target for the positive blind cases ranged from −0.4 to −6.3%, within our uncertainty of measurement (8.95–9.18%). The rate of alcohol evaporation/degradation was determined negligible. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to compare the % difference in BAC among five target concentrations, eight analysts, three HS-GC-FID instruments and two pipettes. The variables other than target concentrations showed no significant difference (P > 0.2). While the 0.08 g/100 mL target showed a significantly larger % difference than higher target concentrations (0.15–0.25 g/100 mL), the % differences among the higher targets were not concentration-dependent. Despite difficulties like gaining buy-in from stakeholders and mimicking evidence samples, the implementation of a BQC program has improved processes, shown methods are reliable and added confidence to staff’s testimony in court.

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Interlaboratory Comparison of Lead and Cadmium in Blood, Urine, and Aqueous Solutions

Clinical Chemistry ◽

10.1093/clinchem/24.10.1797 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 24 (10) ◽

pp. 1797-1800 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Poul-Erik Paulev ◽

Poul Solgaard ◽

Jens Christian Tjell

Keyword(s):

Quality Control ◽

Aqueous Solutions ◽

Interlaboratory Comparison ◽

Control Program ◽

Quality Control Program ◽

Control Programs ◽

Lead And Cadmium ◽

Biological Liquids

Abstract Analysis for lead and cadmium in biological liquids (blood and urine) is difficult. Results of such analyses from five laboratories are compared for samples with known additions of lead and cadmium. The data, evaluated in terms of inter- and intralaboratory reproducibility and accuracy, suggest that laboratories should voluntarily participate in quality control programs. Users of routine laboratories are advised to use their own quality control program.

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