The Pacific Pathology Training Centre is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre [WHOCC] for External Quality Assessment [EQA] in Health Laboratory Services.
Participation in the EQA for 23 national laboratories in the South Pacific region including Timor Leste is funded by the New Zealand overseas development programme.
The terms of reference for this collaboration is listed below:
- To assist WHO in the organisation and provision of external quality assessment programmes in Microbiology, Infectious Disease Serology, Biochemistry, Haematology, and Blood Transfusion Science for laboratory services of developing countries in the Pacific region.
- To assist WHO in providing training of laboratory personnel to strengthen quality assurance programmes of laboratories in the Member States and to develop a skilled workforce of laboratory technicians.
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To assist WHO in providing technical support and advice as required in the strengthening of health laboratories in the Pacific region.
Overview
The PPTC REQA programme originally commenced in 1985 as an evaluation process for students attending residential courses in New Zealand. This was updated in 1990 when the PPTC was conferred Collaborating Centre status by WHO. The EQAP further expanded in 2000, and then in 2004 with the introduction of a regular HIV/STI testing component. In 2017, the programme was expanded to include Dengue testing and in 2019, Anatomical Pathology was introduced.
In June 2019, the PPTC changed its operating name from Pacific Paramedical Training Centre to Pacific Pathology Training Centre. The Pacific Pathology Training Centre became a WHO Collaborating Centre for External Quality Assessment in Health Laboratory Services in June 2020.
Pacific laboratories differ considerably in the levels of instrumentation, equipment, methodology and expertise available to them and thus the evaluations of the responses received from them must recognise these different levels of technology.
The major purpose of this programme is to actively help and suggest ways in which a laboratory can improve the quality of its service to the patient. The Centre’s staff have visited the majority of laboratories presently enrolled in the programme and funding is received from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade [MFAT - NZ overseas development programme] and the New Zealand Insitute of Medical Laboratory Sciences [NZIMLS].
In 2024 there are approximately 90 laboratories from 20 countries participating in all or part of the programme and these include:
23 National Laboratories (Pacific Island Countries)
12 Divisional Laboratories (Pacific Island Countries)
3 Laos PDR Laboratories
35 Cambodia Laboratories
2 Timor Leste Laboratories
4 Federated State of Micronesia (FSM) Laboratories
5 Bhutan Laboratories
12 Private Laboratories (Pacific Island Countries)
Laboratories are given five weeks to process the survey and return their results to the Centre. A final reply also details the laboratory score for the exercise, their accumulated score for the previous dispatch in that discipline, and the average score for all participating laboratories.
Each laboratory is identified by a unique code number, with the generated results kept confidential to that laboratory, the PPTC, the WHO Regional Adviser of Health Laboratories at the Regional Office in Manila, and the relevant department at the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Wellington.
EQA Panels
The following medical laboratory sciences disciplines are currently offered by the PPTC:
- Anatomical Pathology Panel:This panel comprises of the Histology and Cytology sections’ programs.
- Histology Panel.
Consists of 3 surveys per year. Each survey consists of 4 or 5 unstained tissue biopsies mounted on microscope slides, with relevant clinical details. Laboratories are required to stain each slide and pathologists examine the tissue slides and report on the microscopic findings, provide a target diagnosis and answer disease-specific questions to support the diagnosis. The referee may supply photos of the reference slides for laboratories that are unable to perform staining due to supply issues.
- Cytology Panel.
This panel commenced in 2024 for those laboratories already involved with the Histology program. Due to the difficulty in producing copies of the cases used to share with participants, only photos of the stained slides for the cases used in each cycle were emailed to participating laboratories to report on the microscopic findings, target diagnosis and relevant information to support the diagnosis.
The PPTC acknowledges the support from the Whangarei Hospital Laboratory Anatomical Pathology Department for preparing the cases for these programs.
Biochemistry Panel.
Consists of 3 surveys per year. Each survey has 2 lyophilised serum samples and 2 samples of reconstituting fluid for general chemistry, 2 samples for glycated haemoglobin [HbA1c] and 2 samples for a selected number of Endocrine tests.
PPTC acknowledges the support provided by RCPAQAP for the donation of samples for this Biochemistry programme.
Molecular SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Panel:
This panel was established in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic through WHO funding, and the RSV and Influenza were added in 2024. 3 surveys are distributed each year. Each survey consists of 2 specimens, inactivated by gamma irradiation and prepared in liquid formulation of PBSG from potential positive COVID-19 and Influenza patients. Laboratories are required to perform all the molecular virology disease screening tests that are routinely carried out on suspected COVID-19 and Influenza. The samples can be tested on more than one platform. PPTC acknowledges the support provided by RCPAQAP for supplying samples for this programme.
Microbiology Panel:
Consists of 3 surveys per year. Each survey consists of three pathogenic organisms for identification and, if necessary, antimicrobial susceptibility testing. A range of both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms are included and on occasion, a more fastidious organism may also be sent. Cultures are lyophilised before distributing them to participating laboratories. A parasitology case study is also included with each survey. On occasion, mixed cultures, samples requiring urine cell count, and gram stains may also be included as sample types. The PPTC thanks the Awanui Labs in Wellington for the donation of samples for our Microbiology programme.
Acknowledgement
The PPTC acknowledges the funding support received from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade [MFAT, NZ Aid Programme] to provide a free service to approximately 30 National Hospitals in the Pacific Region. Through MFAT funding the PPTC is able to sustain its EQA programme, using the funding to pay for courier services, cost of samples, consumables and supplies, and consultant fees for specialist Medical Laboratory Scientists and Pathologists.
The PPTC further acknowledges the support of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Programs [RCPAQAP - Sydney, Australia], Wellington Awanui Laboratories [Wellington Hospital, NZ], Whangarei Hospital Laboratory, Canterbury Health Laboratories [CHL - Christchurch Hospital, NZ], New Zealand Blood Services [NZBS - Wellington and Christchurch, NZ], LabPLUS [Auckland Hospital, Auckland, NZ] and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research – [ESR - Wellington, NZ] for the contribution of samples for our EQA programme.
Acknowledgement
The PPTC acknowledges the funding support received from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade [MFAT, NZ Aid Programme] to provide a free service to approximately 30 National Hospitals in the Pacific Region. Through MFAT funding the PPTC is able to sustain its EQA programme, using the funding to pay for courier services, cost of samples, consumables and supplies, and consultant fees for specialist Medical Laboratory Scientists and Pathologists.
The PPTC further acknowledges the support of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Programs [RCPAQAP - Sydney, Australia], Wellington Awanui Laboratories [Wellington Hospital, NZ], Whangarei Hospital Laboratory, Canterbury Health Laboratories [CHL - Christchurch Hospital, NZ], New Zealand Blood Services [NZBS - Wellington and Christchurch, NZ], LabPLUS [Auckland Hospital, Auckland, NZ] and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research – [ESR - Wellington, NZ] for the contribution of samples for our EQA programme.
2025 EQA Registrations
Please contact the Programme Manager contact below to express your interest of enrolment into the programme
2025 Dispatch Schedule:
Please view the 2025 PPTC EQA Dispatch Schedule here.
For further information please contact:
Mr. Filipo Faiga
E: filipo@pptc.org.nz
Laboratory Consultant and EQA Programme Manager
Pacific Pathology Training Centre (PPTC)
WHO Collaborating Centre for External Quality Assessment in Health Laboratory Services
P.O. Box 7013, Wellington, NZ
T: +6443896294
