A novel proficiency test to assess the animal diagnostic investigation process in identifying an unknown toxicant
Participation in Proficiency Tests (PTs) is an important component of quality assurance in testing laboratories. In a typical chemistry PT, blind-coded samples are sent to participants for analysis of specific chemical agents, and results are compared to a pre-determined key (e.g., expected concentr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Toxicology Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214750025000435 |
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| author | Andriy Tkachenko Yang Chen Marissa Petrey Scott Fritz Tim Walsh David Rotstein Megan R. Miller Bruce Williams Michael Dark Matthew Kmet Ravinder Reddy Gregory Tyson Sarah M. Nemser |
| author_facet | Andriy Tkachenko Yang Chen Marissa Petrey Scott Fritz Tim Walsh David Rotstein Megan R. Miller Bruce Williams Michael Dark Matthew Kmet Ravinder Reddy Gregory Tyson Sarah M. Nemser |
| author_sort | Andriy Tkachenko |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Participation in Proficiency Tests (PTs) is an important component of quality assurance in testing laboratories. In a typical chemistry PT, blind-coded samples are sent to participants for analysis of specific chemical agents, and results are compared to a pre-determined key (e.g., expected concentrations) to assess proficiency. In the animal diagnostic PT presented here, organizers evaluated not only the analytical component of the diagnostic investigation but also the entire investigative process as a multi-step, holistic multidisciplinary approach. Fourteen veterinary diagnostic laboratories (VDLs) participated in an exercise to identify the root cause of a simulated case of lead (Pb) toxicosis. VDLs received a case description outlining neurological signs in cattle, a digitized brain histology slide, and liver and brain tissue samples for optional chemistry analysis. Thirteen of 14 VDLs successfully diagnosed lead toxicosis by completing the following stages: (a) correctly identifying histological abnormalities, (b) providing three adequate differential diagnoses, (c) selecting adequate chemistry analyses to rule in or rule out possible causes, (d) accurately detecting lead concentration in the liver, and (e) interpreting the diagnostic significance of their results correctly. Importantly, participants first had to determine which chemistry analyses were appropriate and then to accurately quantify the target analytes. This approach provided greater confidence in the diagnostic capability of the laboratory by reducing the bias associated with being given a known chemical contaminant for which to test, typical of most chemistry PTs, and may therefore be of interest to PT providers and accreditation committees. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2086e0115238443e8649f965922bce55 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2214-7500 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxicology Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-2086e0115238443e8649f965922bce552025-02-05T04:32:07ZengElsevierToxicology Reports2214-75002025-06-0114101925A novel proficiency test to assess the animal diagnostic investigation process in identifying an unknown toxicantAndriy Tkachenko0Yang Chen1Marissa Petrey2Scott Fritz3Tim Walsh4David Rotstein5Megan R. Miller6Bruce Williams7Michael Dark8Matthew Kmet9Ravinder Reddy10Gregory Tyson11Sarah M. Nemser12US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Laurel, MD 20708, USA; Corresponding author.US Food and Drug Administration, Human Foods Program, Bedford Park, IL 60501, USAInstitute for Food Safety and Health, Bedford Park, Illinois, IL 60501, USAKansas State University, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Manhattan, KS 66506, USAKansas State University, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Manhattan, KS 66506, USAUS Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Laurel, MD 20708, USAUS Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Laurel, MD 20708, USADavis-Thompson Foundation, Gurnee, IL 60031, USADavis-Thompson Foundation, Gurnee, IL 60031, USAUS Food and Drug Administration, Human Foods Program, Bedford Park, IL 60501, USAUS Food and Drug Administration, Human Foods Program, Bedford Park, IL 60501, USAUS Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Laurel, MD 20708, USAUS Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Laurel, MD 20708, USAParticipation in Proficiency Tests (PTs) is an important component of quality assurance in testing laboratories. In a typical chemistry PT, blind-coded samples are sent to participants for analysis of specific chemical agents, and results are compared to a pre-determined key (e.g., expected concentrations) to assess proficiency. In the animal diagnostic PT presented here, organizers evaluated not only the analytical component of the diagnostic investigation but also the entire investigative process as a multi-step, holistic multidisciplinary approach. Fourteen veterinary diagnostic laboratories (VDLs) participated in an exercise to identify the root cause of a simulated case of lead (Pb) toxicosis. VDLs received a case description outlining neurological signs in cattle, a digitized brain histology slide, and liver and brain tissue samples for optional chemistry analysis. Thirteen of 14 VDLs successfully diagnosed lead toxicosis by completing the following stages: (a) correctly identifying histological abnormalities, (b) providing three adequate differential diagnoses, (c) selecting adequate chemistry analyses to rule in or rule out possible causes, (d) accurately detecting lead concentration in the liver, and (e) interpreting the diagnostic significance of their results correctly. Importantly, participants first had to determine which chemistry analyses were appropriate and then to accurately quantify the target analytes. This approach provided greater confidence in the diagnostic capability of the laboratory by reducing the bias associated with being given a known chemical contaminant for which to test, typical of most chemistry PTs, and may therefore be of interest to PT providers and accreditation committees.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214750025000435Proficiency testingAssessment of performanceLead toxicosisAnimal diagnosticInvestigation process |
| spellingShingle | Andriy Tkachenko Yang Chen Marissa Petrey Scott Fritz Tim Walsh David Rotstein Megan R. Miller Bruce Williams Michael Dark Matthew Kmet Ravinder Reddy Gregory Tyson Sarah M. Nemser A novel proficiency test to assess the animal diagnostic investigation process in identifying an unknown toxicant Toxicology Reports Proficiency testing Assessment of performance Lead toxicosis Animal diagnostic Investigation process |
| title | A novel proficiency test to assess the animal diagnostic investigation process in identifying an unknown toxicant |
| title_full | A novel proficiency test to assess the animal diagnostic investigation process in identifying an unknown toxicant |
| title_fullStr | A novel proficiency test to assess the animal diagnostic investigation process in identifying an unknown toxicant |
| title_full_unstemmed | A novel proficiency test to assess the animal diagnostic investigation process in identifying an unknown toxicant |
| title_short | A novel proficiency test to assess the animal diagnostic investigation process in identifying an unknown toxicant |
| title_sort | novel proficiency test to assess the animal diagnostic investigation process in identifying an unknown toxicant |
| topic | Proficiency testing Assessment of performance Lead toxicosis Animal diagnostic Investigation process |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214750025000435 |
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