Aim of the PT: detection of worms of Echinococcus sp. in a matrix made by intestinal mucosa.
Who can participate to the PT: all the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for parasites from EU member states or associated countries.
Procedure to analyse the panel of samples: a panel of 3 PT items is delivered to the participants. Each 13 ml sample consists of homogenized intestinal mucosa plus ethanol 70% (ratio 2:1), spiked or not with worms of Echinococcus spp. Participants are requested to analyse the items by the sedimentation and counting technique (SCT) within 7 days after the delivery to the lab.
Criteria for the result evaluation: results evaluation is only qualitative, the results of the SCT are reported “correct” or “incorrect”, irrespective of the number of worms in the sample/s. Final evaluation is considered “positive” if all spiked items are successfully detected.
If the PTP person in charge determines that the items distributed to participants or the data obtained are not suitable for performance evaluation, the participants will be notified immediately. The current scheme will be canceled, and a new one will be organized as soon as the issues causing the unsuitability are resolved.
