National Reference Centre for Mycobacteriology/National Mycobacteriology Laboratory (NRCM/NML) GeneXpert Proficiency Testing Program

Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and prediction of Rifampicin (RIF) resistance.

•    4 simulated sputum specimens for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and prediction of Rifampicin (RIF) resistance for use with the Cepheid GeneXpertR MTB/RIF Ultra test.
Clients will receive a panel shipment in the months of May and October. Clients will be given sufficient time to test and report the panel results appropriate to the test procedures.

Detection and RIF susceptibility prediction testing.

No charge 

Canadian Provincial/Territorial public healthcare and hospital laboratories are eligible for participation if proficiency request is received by the NRCM within the prescribed deadline.

Participants are assigned alphanumeric codes which anonymizes their identity. All information supplied by a participant to the proficiency testing provider shall be treated as confidential. The proficiency panel will be run according to the specified procedures and without consultation with other laboratories. Final reports will be shared with participants and shall not be distributed further without permission from the panel provider. The identity of the participants will not be disclosed; however, in exceptional circumstances where proficiency testing results are provided to a third party, all information will be anonymized before dissemination, and the participants will be notified in writing.

Complete the NRCM proficiency survey and “NML Transfer Application for Pathogens and Toxins” and submit via CTLTN collaboration on CNPHI or email NRCM at nml.nrcm-lnm.cnrm@phac-aspc.gc.ca. 

Appeals process: Participants have the right to appeal the results of any proficiency test (PT) in which they are enrolled.

Any appeals received will be acknowledged, validated, and investigated, with the outcome communicated to the participant.

If any participant would like to appeal their results, they can email this request to nml.nrcm-lnm.cnrm@phac-aspc.gc.ca.