NATIONAL REFERENCE LABORATORY

East Avenue Medical Center
East Avenue
, Diliman, Quezon City

Philippine Institute of Pure and Applied Chemistry

Ateneo de Manila University Campus, Loyola Heights, Quezon City

Tel.  426-6072 Fax. 426-6073 E-mail. info@pipac.com.ph


PT Document Number:  SDTL INS

 

 

 

 

 

PROFICIENCY TESTING PROGRAM FOR DRUG SCREENING LABORATORY

INSTRUCTIONS TO PARTICIPATING DRUG TESTING LABORATORY

 

To ensure that results from this Proficiency Testing Program can be analyzed properly, please adhere to the following instructions carefully.

 

1.        Samples

 

Ten (10) samples of 3-5 mL each of synthetic urine in polypropylene clinical vials are supplied to your laboratory.  The samples should have been shipped in an ice-packed packaging container.  Each sample is coded as follows:

       

                        Lab Code: _____

Sample Number:  _____

NRL-DOH/PIPAC PT SDTL

                        PT Batch Code Number:  SDTL 2004-01

 

2.        Please inspect the samples IMMEDIATELY upon receipt, and accomplish Page 1 of the Results Form (PT Form Number:  SDTL RF.  In case the samples received are not in their proper condition, the receiving lab should immediately inform the NRL through the contact person and number given on the Results Form.

 

3.        Testing should be done as soon as the laboratory receives the samples and must be completed within 48 hours. Each sample should be tested for MET and THC-COOH using an NRL-accredited screening test method, either using a BFAD-registered test strip or an instrumented method for analysis of urine samples.  Only one screening test result per sample shall be reported.  The cutoff for the method that shall be used should be reported on the Results Form.

 

4.        You are to submit your test results in two modes (BOTH MODES ARE REQUIRED): 

 

(a) First, by accomplishing the RESULTS FORM (PT Form Number: SDTL RF) that came with the samples, and sending it to NRL (see address above) within 48 hours upon receipt of the samples; and

 (b)  second, by filling out  an on-line Results Form published on the DTOMIS web site at http://dtomis.doh.gov.ph.  The link to the on-line submission is indicated by a link to Proficiency Testing Program. (THIS IS A DIFFERENT ON-LINE SUBMISSION FROM THE ONE YOU USE IN ACTUAL TESTING.  THE ON-LINE FORM LOOKS SIMILAR TO YOUR RESULTS FORM.)  The password to log in for your LAB CODE is written on the Results Form.

 

On the Results Form (PT Form Number SDTL RF), the test results should be reported as follows:

 

MET: 

Write POSITIVE to indicate presence of methamphetamine at or above the detection cutoff of the test method or test kit used, otherwise, write NEGATIVE to indicate a concentration below this cutoff.

THC-COOH:

Write POSITIVE indicates presence of THC-COOH at or above the detection cutoff of the test method or test kit used, otherwise, write NEGATIVE to indicate a concentration below this cutoff.

 

5.        The remainder of the samples should be kept in the refrigerator (at 4-6 oC) up to 5 working days of the submission of the Results Form  After which, they may be disposed off appropriately, as is required for biological specimens.  The samples are for laboratory use only.  The membranes of drug test kits used in the PT Cycle shall be brought to the Center for Health Development offices as you would for regular tests.  Please attach to it a photocopy of your Results Form to indicate that the kits were used for the PT Program.

 

6.        Your laboratory has been assigned with a Laboratory Code for confidentiality purposes.  All references to your laboratory, especially in the statistical analysis of the results for this PT Cycle shall be made using your Laboratory Code. 

Your laboratory’s performance in this PT Cycle shall be assessed based on sound statistical tests.  The final report will be sent to your laboratory by the NRL-DOH within 8-12 weeks of your participation in the PT program cycle.  For confidentiality purposes, your laboratory shall be identified in this report by your Laboratory Code number.  In case your laboratory did not perform satisfactorily in the given PT Cycle, as a rule, you may participate one more time in another PT Cycle in the same year.  A maximum of two (2) cycles of participation is allowed per year.  A laboratory that fails to perform satisfactorily in the PT Program will have its license revoked by the BHFS. In case you are participating in a PILOT PT Cycle, then your results will not be counted for the year.

 

7.        Additional information and all communication regarding this PT Program may be addressed to the NRL-DOH:       

 

Proficiency Testing Program for Drugs

c/o Dr. Socorro C. Yanez

Head, National Reference Laboratory

East Avenue Medical Center

Telefax:  (02) 435-7136

Web site:  http://dtomis.doh.gov.ph