The WWARN pharmacology proficiency testing programme is designed to help participating laboratories assess their ability to carry out drug analysis, resolve any potential problem areas and to improve their results – and in doing so improve the quality of antimalarial pharmacokinetic data published and shared, including with networks like WWARN.
How does it work?
Blinded Quality Control (QC) samples are distributed to participating laboratories once per year in a single batch. Samples are divided into three cycles and laboratories must complete analysis of each cycle by the given time.
Cycle 1: January - 30 April
Cycle 2: May – 31 August
Cycle 3: September – 31 December
Analysis
Participating laboratories may request QC samples from the WWARN QA/QC Unit at any time within a cycle.
Participating laboratories should carry out analyses using their choice of analytical method. Methods must be those used for routine work and should not be specially adapted for the proficiency test.
Results must be reported to the QA/QC Unit within two weeks of the cycle end date.
Results
After each cycle closes, the assigned value (i.e. concentration used for all calculations) for each antimalarial drug substance in every sample will be disclosed to participating laboratories, along with all anonymised results. Each laboratory will be given a unique code and will only be able to identify their own laboratory results.
The results will be subjected to statistical analysis and converted into scores by the WWARN QA/QC Unit in Bangkok, Thailand. Each laboratory will receive confidential reports on their performance, assessed on the basis of the deviation of measurement results from assigned values. This data will be provided with the objective of confirming and enhancing analytical services at participating laboratories.
The WWARN QA/QC Unit will keep all participants fully informed of their progress in the programme and will provide advice to participating laboratories, as needed.
Who is involved?
Launched in 2010, the WWARN QA/QC programme has already registered 10 pharmacology and four in vitro laboratories from around the globe. Nine laboratories have received proficiency testing samples for chloroquine/desethylchloroquine, dihydroartemisinin and lumefantrine. Other antimalarial drug substances were introduced this year and include primaquine/carboxyprimaquine, piperaquine, amodiaquine/desethylamodiaquine and mefloquine/carboxymefloquine.
