National Gonococcal Antimicrobial Susceptibility Comparison Program

The National Gonococcal Antimicrobial Susceptibility Comparison Program is sent to participating laboratories across Canada annually. Each panel consists of ten strains of various antibiotic susceptibilities to penicillin, spectinomycin, tetracycline, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, cefixime and azithromycin. Participating laboratories are to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the different antimicrobials used by their laboratory with either the two-fold agar dilution method, or the E-Test method, for each panel strain along with a set of control strains. Inter-laboratory and intra-laboratory comparisons are made using the submitted results.

Determination of assigned value: The assigned value is determined through the calculation of the modal minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for each antimicrobial. The modal is calculated once all participants have submitted their results.

Evaluation of performance: Participants scores on the panel results are calculated by dividing the number of MICs that are =1 doubling dilutions from the modal MIC by the total number of MICs submitted by the participant. Participants will receive their score overall and when compared to only those that use the same antimicrobial susceptibility method (i.e. agar dilution or gradient strip).

Report distribution: Reports are emailed to participants within 60 days of the panel results being returned to the Invasive Bacterial Diseases section.

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae

No charge

Any laboratories that perform antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and want to test their proficiency may participate upon request to the Invasive Bacterial Diseases Section. Laboratories wishing to participate should give at least 4 months notice to ensure approvals can be in place.

Participants are assigned a numeric code which anonymizes their identity. Participant’s contact information and numeric code are not shared among the group.

Email your request to participate to nml.ibac-lnm.baci@phac-aspc.gc.ca.