Nucleic acid testing
In 1992 the first proficiency study on detection of HCV-RNA was organised by Dr Lelie from CLB (today Sanquin). The results were astonishing indicating more effort on quality control for nucleic acid testing was required. In 1993 a similar study on detection of HBV-DNA was organised by Dr. Quint from DDL Diagnostic Laboratory, at that time part of the Reinier de Graaf Hospital in Delft. This resulted in a combination of efforts between DDL and Sanquin in organising proficiency testing for Nucleic acid testing from 1997 until 2004. Starting with HIV-RNA, HBV-DNA, HCV-RNA and CMV-DNA the program was further expanded with HSV-1-DNA, HSV-2-DNA, parvo-B19-DNA and HAV-RNA. Based on the results of proficiency testing run controls and validation panels were developed. The scientific group participated in the WHO collaborative studies for establishing nucleic acid standards, the European concerted actions (EUROHEP and Quality Control Concerted Action (QCCA, now QCMD) and validation studies of in house and commercial assays for blood screening. In 2004 the first quality assessment study on HPV testing was organised.
Viral serology
In 1997 a collaboration between CLB and Dr. C. Weykamp from Queen Beatrix hospital started on quality control for viral serology in blood banks.. Dr. Weycamp operates on behalf of SKML, the dutch foundation for quality assessment in hospital laboratories. SKML provided the external quality assessment schemes for blood bank viral serology while at CLB and later Sanquin run controls were developed and made available to blood bank laboratories. SKML continued the proficiency program herself after 2004. You can reach them under www.viralqc.com
Current situation
At the end of 2004 Sanquin sold its activity to a third party. DDL Diagnostic Laboratory decided to continue these activities alone in 2006 and collaborates since then again with Dr. Weykamp. .
Currently we are still developing and introducing meaningful quality control products like the years in which Sanquin and DDL had a firm collaboration. As such we now represent a 17 years experience in quality control
