Background: Strongyloidiasis is an infectious disease caused by the parasitic roundworm Strongyloides stercoralis. Strongyloidiasis is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions and has been shown to have high prevalence in some remote communities in Australia [1,2]. In immunocompromised individuals, Strongyloides infection can be fatal. In 2018, RCPAQAP Serology issued a Strongyloides Pilot Program to assess the suitability of introducing an external quality assurance (EQA) program.
Methods: The Strongyloides pilot survey was distributed to Australian laboratories for Strongyloides IgG testing as per routine laboratory protocols. The survey consisted of one negative specimen and three positive serum specimens distributed in one survey. The majority of participants used a commercial assay, with only one participant using an In-house assay. Qualitative (pos/neg) and quantitative (OD, Index and S/CO) data was analysed.
Results: Qualitative results showed 100% consensus for all specimens. Inconsistencies were identified in the reporting of cut-off values and units.
Conclusion: Results reflect a high concordance in qualitative reporting of Strongyloides IgG. The introduction of an EQA program may be beneficial for reviewing the quality of results when reporting low level positive specimens with result values close to the clinical cut-off value and assist laboratories in the accurate reporting of Strongyloidiasis.