Evaluating Quality Management and Diagnostics Microbiology Performance Within an International External Quality Assessment (EQA) Program Serving National One Health Sector Reference Laboratories Across Asia: Experience Amid the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic.

Background: Strengthening external quality assessment (EQA) services across the One Health sector supports implementation of effective antimicrobial resistance (AMR) control strategies. Here we describe and compare 2 different approaches for conducting virtual laboratory follow-up assessments within an EQA program to evaluate quality management system (QMS) and procedures for pathogen identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST).

Methods: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2021 and 2022, 2 laboratory assessment approaches were introduced: virtual-based and survey-based methodologies.

Mapping the coverage, availability and uptake of External Quality Assessment programmes across One Health sectors in Asia.

Introduction: Establishing effective external quality assessment (EQA) programmes is an important element in ensuring the quality of, and building capacity for, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) laboratory surveillance.

Objectives: To understand the current coverage of, and challenges to participation in, EQAs in National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) across One Health (OH) sectors in Asia.

Methods: Current EQA coverage was evaluated through desktop review, online surveys and interviews of both EQA participants and providers.