Analysis of performance capability of syphilis serology among STI laboratories from 2004 to 2006 in Guangdong Province / 中华皮肤科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To assess the performance capability of syphilis serology among STI laborato-ries in Guangdong Province. Methods Positive and negative sera samples were prepared and delivered toSTI laboratories. Non-treponemal and treponemal quantitative and qualitative tests were performed with these samples based on standardized procedures. Quality and proficiency of syphilis serology among these labora-tories were evaluated. Results A total of 225 STI laboratories in Guangdong Province participated in this survey, 3696 serological tests for syphilis were performed from 2004-2006. The outcomes showed that the total reproducibility among participating laboratories increased from 82.5% in 2004 to 90.0% in 2006 (x2 =16.8, P ＜ 0.05), and the percentage of laboratories with a performance level higher than the provincial average level rose from 64.7% in 2004 to 76.8% in 2006. The total reproducibility was 95.5% for non-treponemal qualitative tests,95.0% for treponemal qualitative tests, 82.1% for non-treponemal quantitative tests, and 81.1% for treponemal quantitative tests. The false-negativity and false-positivity rates were 4.7% and 4.0%,respectively, for non-treponemal qualitative tests, and 7.2% and 0.4%, respectively, for treponemal qualitative tests. Conclusions It is important to do capability building and improve the performance of STI laborato-ries, in order to prevent and control syphilis.