One of the tasks as the EU Reference Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance is to organise and conduct an External Quality Assurance System (EQAS) on susceptibility testing of Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli, enterococci and staphylococci. Also, an EQAS is conducted to compare the proficiency related to the selective isolation and AST of E. coli isolates from samples of either meat or caecal content.
The main objective of this EQAS is to support laboratories to assess and if necessary improve the quality of susceptibility testing of pathogens originating from food and animal sources. Furthermore, to assess and improve the comparability of surveillance and antimicrobial susceptibility data reported by different laboratories to EFSA.
Various aspects of the proficiency test scheme may from time to time be subcontracted. When subcontracting occurs it is placed with a competent subcontractor and the National Food Institute is responsible to the scheme participants for the subcontractor's work.
Reports on already conducted EURL-AR EQAS's are available for download elsewhere on this website:
EQAS Reports »
Test material for the upcoming EURL-AR EQAS on AST on E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Staphylococcus for the 2022 EQAS has been shipped in September 2022. Protocol and testforms are available below.
For the 2022 EURL-AR EQAS on selective isolation and AST of E. coli isolates from samples of meat and caecal content, test material has been shipped to the participants in November 2022. Results submission deadline is 16 January 2023. Information related to access of the results submission webtool will be sent by email before Christmas.