Establishing an External Quality assessment programme for Africa

The grant will address regional challenges to achieving quality assured bacteriology identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing results. There is familiarity with existing EQA bodies across the regions, however, these initiatives need supporting and strengthening. Challenges include cross border transfer of isolates used in proficiency testing schemes, lack of national capacity to prepare standardised EQA panels, and the challenges of resourcing sustainable EQA programmes.