Proficiency Tests

Aim

The aim of the proficiency tests is to assess the ability of participating laboratories to identify the fish diseases listed and categorized in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/216  and other current fish diseases.  

Content

The inter-laboratory proficiency test consists of two separate parts: Proficiency test 1 and 2. Each test consists of 5 coded ampoules containing lyophilized material.

Proficiency test 1

In proficiency test 1, each participating laboratory has to identify any VHSV, IHNV or EHNV content in the ampoules according to the procedures described in the diagnostic manuals provided by the EURL for Fish Diseases

IHNV and VHSV reference sequences

Sequences have been annotated with isolate name, genotype (or genogroup), accession number and description of the accession number. Notice that all the sequences have been trimmed to show the complete coding region of the G-gene only.

• List of reference sequences of the G gene of IHNV
• List of reference sequences of the G gene of VHSV

Proficiency test 2

In proficiency test 2, participants have to identify any KHV (CyHV-3) and ISAV content of the ampoules according to the procedures described in the diagnostic manuals provided by the EURL for Fish Diseases

Additionally SAV is included in proficiency test 2 and participants can include test for it on a voluntarily basis according to the WOAH Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals, chapter 2.3.

Reports

Each participating laboratory receives a report containing information on the virus isolates in the ampoules and a summary of the results of all laboratories in a coded version. The participants are informed of their own code number and are thus able to compare their performance to that of the others. The results of the two proficiency tests will be scored independently.

The proficiency test reports for recent years are available here on the website (see the menu). Upon request, the EURL can provide older versions of the reports. Please contact eurl-fish-crustacean@aqua.dtu.dk

Subcontractors

Please note that we use selected subcontractors for some of our procedures in the preparation of the Proficiency Test on Fisk diseases, specifically for sequencing and freeze-drying. Details on the steps of the procedures as well as for the subcontractors are described in the yearly report of the Inter-Laboratory Proficiency Test.

Participants complaint

Complaints regarding the ringtest may be sent to the mailbox (eurl-fish-crustacean@aqua.dtu.dk) of the EURL for Fish and Crustacean Diseases, the provider of the proficiency test.

The EURL registers all complaints regarding the proficiency test following the documented QA procedures. The staff of the EURL will promptly and carefully assess all aspects of the complaint and collect relevant information before introducing necessary corrections and taking corrective actions.