Strengthening antimicrobial resistance diagnostics in National Reference Laboratories across One Health in South and Southeast Asia: impact of external quality assessment and targeted follow-up.

Objectives: The intent of this study was to evaluate and improve microbiology laboratory diagnostic capacity in selected National AMR Reference laboratories from South and Southeast Asia for AMR testing utilizing EQA and targeted follow-up support.

Methods: A baseline assessment was conducted to evaluate quality management system (QMS) practices for laboratories participating in the Strengthening External Quality Assessment in Asia (EQASIA-EQA) programme for the first time. Following each EQA iteration, laboratory assessments were conducted, and underperforming laboratories received online consultations to identify root causes of deviations and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).

Immunogenicity and Safety of Heterologous Versus Homologous Prime-Boost Regimens With BBIBP-CorV and Ad26.COV2.S COVID-19 Vaccines: A Multicentric, Randomized, Observer-Blinded Non-inferiority Trial in Madagascar and Mozambique.

Background: Data on immunogenicity and safety of heterologous prime-boost (HePB) regimens using the BBIBP-CorV and Ad26.COV2.S have not yet been reported in sub-Saharan Africa.

External quality assurance (EQA) network in South and South-East Asia: experience and results from an international EQA programme in One Health sector reference laboratories.

Objectives: External quality assurance (EQA) is an objective tool to assess laboratories' diagnostic performance and their adherence to recognized international standards. External Quality Assessment in Asia (EQASIA) is an EQA network in South and South-East Asia established in 2020 with the aim of improving the quality of bacteriology diagnostics across all One Health sectors in the region. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of the EQA results collected from the EQASIA network and to assess improvements among the participating laboratories.

Evaluating Quality Management and Diagnostics Microbiology Performance Within an International External Quality Assessment (EQA) Program Serving National One Health Sector Reference Laboratories Across Asia: Experience Amid the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic.

Background: Strengthening external quality assessment (EQA) services across the One Health sector supports implementation of effective antimicrobial resistance (AMR) control strategies. Here we describe and compare 2 different approaches for conducting virtual laboratory follow-up assessments within an EQA program to evaluate quality management system (QMS) and procedures for pathogen identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST).

Methods: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2021 and 2022, 2 laboratory assessment approaches were introduced: virtual-based and survey-based methodologies.