The document provides performance assessment results for a microbiology proficiency testing program by UK NEQAS, detailing a laboratory's assessment of three specimens: sphingomonas paucimobilis, streptococcus mutans, and campylobacter jejuni. The laboratory achieved a cumulative score of 34 out of 34 with a performance rating of 0.63 above the mean, indicating good performance, although the streptococcus mutans specimen was not scored due to insufficient correct results from referee laboratories. Additional details include methods used for identification and comparisons with previous distributions.

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No. 6698 Sphingomonas paucimobilis No. 6699 Streptococcus mutans No. 6700 Campylobacter jejuni
Dispatch Date : 27-Sep-2021
Page 1
General bacteriology
Distribution : 5001
Laboratory :
Operated by UK Health Security Agency
61 Colindale Avenue
Colindale
London NW9 5EQ
© Copyright. The data in UK NEQAS reports are confidential. Participants must
consult the scheme organiser before quoting data from the scheme.
UK NEQAS for Microbiology
PO Box 63003
London NW9 1GH Published at 14:38 on Thursday 20 January 2022
Your Score
Intended Result Your Report
Specimen 6698 Sphingomonas paucimobilis Sphingomonas paucimobilis 2
Specimen 6699 Streptococcus mutans Streptococcus mutans Not scored
Specimen 6700 Campylobacter jejuni Campylobacter jejuni 2
Cumulative score information
Total number of specimens sent to you for UK NEQAS for General bacteriology over the last 6 distributions is 18
Specimen numbers 6452 6453 6454 6494 6495 6496 6546 6547 6548 6603 6604 6605 6652 6653 6654 6698 6700 have been analysed and scored.
Number of reports returned and scored 17
Number of specimens reported as not examined (not scored) 0
Number of specimens received too late for analysis (not scored) 0
Number of specimens for which no report was received (not scored) 0
Your cumulative score for these specimens was 34 out of a possible total of 34
The mean score calculated from the reports returned by UK laboratories was 32.57 with a standard error of 2.26.
Performance rating
Your performance rating for UK NEQAS for General bacteriology (i.e. the number of standard errors by which your cumulative score lies above or below the mean
for UK laboratories) is 0.63.
A performance rating of more than 1.96 standard errors below the mean indicates possible poor performance.
Performance ratings may change if other participants' results are amended.
No score penalty is incurred for non return of results. However non return of results may be used as a measure of poor performance.
Turn around time: The time taken to report your results was 0- day(s). This information is provided for your own use and does not form part of your performance
assessment.
Report format: In the histograms on pages 2, 3 and 4, a maximum of 10 instruments/methods are displayed; these include the most commonly used methods and
the method(s) used in your laboratory indicated by an arrow(s). The figures in the histograms and those in the overall results tables may differ:
(1) due to participants using more than one instrument/method resulting in higher numbers of data sets in the histograms, or,
(2) due to exclusion of kits displayed in the histograms resulting in apparently lower numbers of data sets in the histograms.
The method category described as 'other' contains a miscellaneous assortment of method responses that were not well defined.
Acknowledgments: We thank colleagues from UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) - National Infection Service (NIS): RVPBRU and Gastrointestinal Bacteria
Reference Unit (GBRU), for the supply of strains and confirmatory testing.
For repeat specimens, please request using the web form, (https://ukneqasmicro.org.uk/participant-info/order-repeat-specimens) stating your laboratory
identification number, the distribution name and number, specimen number(s), and reason for request.
Any technical enquiries related to this distribution, please contact Shila Seaton, organiser@ukneqasmicro.org.uk stating your laboratory identification number.
Report authorised by: Dr Jennifer Henderson, Scheme Organiser
Performance
Rating
Distribution
Your performance rating over the past 12 distributions
Your current performance rating is 0.63
MICPERF
478748024819483448514901491649314950496849845001
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
Total
score
Distribution
Total score you achieved for each of the last 12 distributions
Your current total score is 4
MICPERFX
478748024819483448514901491649314950496849845001
0
2
4
6
8
of 4

4. Dispatch Date : 27-Sep-2021
Page 2
General bacteriology
Distribution : 5001
Laboratory :
Operated by UK Health Security Agency
61 Colindale Avenue
Colindale
London NW9 5EQ
© Copyright. The data in UK NEQAS reports are confidential. Participants must
consult the scheme organiser before quoting data from the scheme.
UK NEQAS for Microbiology
PO Box 63003
London NW9 1GH Published at 14:38 on Thursday 20 January 2022
6698
No
Scored
99%
6699
6700
Fully Correct
Yes
Yes
Specimen
Referee laboratories result
92%
69%
The one hundred laboratories achieving the highest cumulative scores in the current distribution are selected and
designated referee laboratories. The process is anonymous, selection is made by the computer and the identities
of these laboratories are not known to UK NEQAS, to the laboratories concerned or to other participants.
Participants' results will only be scored if 80% or more of the referee laboratories examining the specimen achieve
fully correct results.
Specimen : 6698 Bronchoalveolar lavage: 17 year old female, Cystic fibrosis patient. The presence of pathogens was queried. Specimen contained
Sphingomonas paucimobilis.
UK (%) All (%)
0 (0.0) 1 (0.2)
Other
0 (0.0) 1 (0.2)
Molecular
2 (1.4) 8 (1.4)
VITEK
0 (0.0) 10 (1.8)
MicroScan WalkAway
0 (0.0) 18 (3.3)
Phoenix 100
13 (9.1) 32 (5.8)
Conventional tests
18 (12.6) 101 (18.3)
VITEK 2 (all models)
27 (18.9) 134 (24.3)
MALDI-ToF (bioMerieux)
83 (58.0) 247 (44.7)
MALDI-ToF (Bruker)
Number of Reports
0 50 100 150 200 250
Unexpected pathogen Negative result (no growth or commensals)
Unnamed Sphingomonas Sphingomonas paucimobilis
Sphingomonas sp. other than paucimobilis Sphingomonas and additional unexpected pathogen
Unexpected pathogens with/without Sphingomonas
paucimobilis:
Aspergillus flavus 1
Brevundimonas vesicularis 2
Burkholderia cepacia complex 1
Candida parapsilosis 1
Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum 1
Enterobacter species 1
Gordonia species 1
Gordonia terrae 1
Rhodococcus species 2
Sphingobacterium spiritivorum 1
Staphylococcus aureus 2
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia 1
Streptococcus pneumoniae 1
Category: Advanced
Specimen 6698 contained a Sphingomonas paucimobilis.
A very good performance with 95.7% of participants attaining a fully correct score, compared with 95.3% in May 2019 (distribution 4486) when this pathogen was
last distributed.
MALDI-ToF (Bruker/Biomerieux) was the most common method reported for identifying this pathogen (n=381).
Your Report : Sphingomonas paucimobilis
134
Total
487
Unexpected pathogen
1
4
Overall Results
2
-1
1
0
1
129
0
0
-1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
% Correct
Negative result
2
6
6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
97.0
UK
10
1
2
All
513
95.7
Score
Your Score : 2
Sphingomonas & unexpected pathogen
Incorrect Sphingomonas sp.
Unnamed Sphingomonas
Sphingomonas paucimobilis
Operated by UK Health Security Agency
61 Colindale Avenue
Colindale
London NW9 5EQ
© Copyright. The data in UK NEQAS reports are confidential. Participants must
consult the scheme organiser before quoting data from the scheme.
UK NEQAS for Microbiology
PO Box 63003
London NW9 1GH Published at 14:38 on Thursday 20 January 2022
of 4

5. Dispatch Date : 27-Sep-2021
Page 3
General bacteriology
Distribution : 5001
Laboratory :
The one hundred laboratories achieving the highest cumulative scores in the current distribution are selected and
designated referee laboratories. The process is anonymous, selection is made by the computer and the identities
of these laboratories are not known to UK NEQAS, to the laboratories concerned or to other participants.
Participants' results will only be scored if 80% or more of the referee laboratories examining the specimen achieve
fully correct results.
6698
No
Scored
99%
6699
6700
Fully Correct
Yes
Yes
Specimen
Referee laboratories result
92%
69%
Specimen : 6699 Pus: Dental caries in 60 year old man with tooth abscess. The presence of pathogens was queried. Specimen contained Streptococcus
mutans, Streptococcus oralis and Streptococcus mitis .
UK (%) All (%)
0 (0.0) 1 (0.2)
Molecular
0 (0.0) 4 (0.7)
Other
3 (1.9) 5 (0.9)
VITEK
0 (0.0) 8 (1.4)
MicroScan WalkAway
0 (0.0) 16 (2.8)
Phoenix 100
32 (20.8) 62 (10.9)
Conventional tests
15 (9.7) 101 (17.8)
VITEK 2 (all models)
31 (20.1) 136 (24.0)
MALDI-ToF (bioMerieux)
73 (47.4) 234 (41.3)
MALDI-ToF (Bruker)
Number of Reports
0 50 100 150 200 250
Unexpected pathogen Negative result (no growth or commensals)
Unnamed Streptococcus Streptococcus mutans
Streptococcus sp. other than mutans Streptococcus and additional unexpected pathogen
Unexpected pathogens with/without Streptococcus
mutans:
Actinomyces israelii 1
Actinomyces naeslundii 2
Actinomyces odontolyticus 2
Actinomyces species 2
Aerococcus viridans 1
Burkholderia cepacia complex 1
Eikenella corrodens 1
Pasteurella multocida 1
Peptostreptococcus prevotii 1
Salmonella species 1
Sphingomonas paucimobilis 1
Staphylococcus aureus 2
Incorrect species:
Streptococcus anginosus group 4
Streptococcus group C 1
Streptococcus mitis group 50
Streptococcus oralis 36
Streptococcus ovis 1
Streptococcus parasanguinis 1
Streptococcus pneumoniae 1
Streptococcus porcinus 1
Streptococcus salivarius 2
Streptococcus sanguinis 7
Category: Core
Specimen 6699 contained a Streptococcus mutans.
Some 56.9% of participants attained the correct score, compared with 91.9% in January 2017 (distribution 4010) when this pathogen was last distributed. As less
than 80% of referee laboratories attained the correct result, this specimen was not scored.
MALDI-ToF (Bruker/Biomerieux) was the most common method reported for identifying this pathogen (n=370).
Your Report : Streptococcus mutans
147
Total
304
Unexpected pathogen
NS
14
Overall Results
NS
NS
3
104
1
69
NS
25
NS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
% Correct
Negative result
NS
95
4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
46.9
UK
13
48
1
All
534
56.9
Score
Your Score : Not scored
Streptococcus & unexpected pathogen
Incorrect Streptococcus sp.
Unnamed Streptococcus
Streptococcus mutans
Operated by UK Health Security Agency
61 Colindale Avenue
Colindale
London NW9 5EQ
© Copyright. The data in UK NEQAS reports are confidential. Participants must
consult the scheme organiser before quoting data from the scheme.
UK NEQAS for Microbiology
PO Box 63003
London NW9 1GH Published at 14:38 on Thursday 20 January 2022
of 4

6. Dispatch Date : 27-Sep-2021
Page 4
General bacteriology
Distribution : 5001
Laboratory :
The one hundred laboratories achieving the highest cumulative scores in the current distribution are selected and
designated referee laboratories. The process is anonymous, selection is made by the computer and the identities
of these laboratories are not known to UK NEQAS, to the laboratories concerned or to other participants.
Participants' results will only be scored if 80% or more of the referee laboratories examining the specimen achieve
fully correct results.
6698
No
Scored
99%
6699
6700
Fully Correct
Yes
Yes
Specimen
Referee laboratories result
92%
69%
Specimen : 6700 Faeces: Severe abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The presence of pathogens was queried. Specimen contained Campylobacter jejuni,
Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella oxytoca .
UK (%) All (%)
0 (0.0) 2 (0.3)
Phoenix 100
0 (0.0) 3 (0.5)
MicroScan WalkAway
0 (0.0) 15 (2.5)
Other
1 (0.6) 56 (9.3)
VITEK 2 (all models)
27 (16.2) 105 (17.4)
Molecular
21 (12.6) 106 (17.6)
MALDI-ToF (bioMerieux)
68 (40.7) 130 (21.6)
Conventional tests
50 (29.9) 186 (30.8)
MALDI-ToF (Bruker)
Number of Reports
0 40 80 120 160 200
Unexpected pathogen Negative result (no growth or commensals)
Unnamed Campylobacter Campylobacter jejuni
Campylobacter sp. other than jejuni Campylobacter and additional unexpected pathogen
Unexpected pathogens with/without Campylobacter
jejuni:
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli 1
Salmonella species 2
Vibrio parahaemolyticus 1
Category: Core
Specimen 6700 contained a Campylobacter jejuni.
A good performance with 83.1% of participants attaining a fully correct score, compared with 97.5% in November 2019 (distribution 4584) when this pathogen was
last distributed.
MALDI-ToF (Bruker/Biomerieux) was the most common method reported for identifying this pathogen (n=292).
Your Report : Campylobacter jejuni
143
Total
316
Unexpected pathogen
0
118
Overall Results
2
-1
60
0
0
66
0
0
-1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
% Correct
Negative result
2
84
2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
88.1
UK
2
17
0
All
522
83.1
Score
Your Score : 2
Campylobacter & unexpected pathogen
Incorrect Campylobacter sp.
Unnamed Campylobacter
Campylobacter jejuni
Operated by UK Health Security Agency
61 Colindale Avenue
Colindale
London NW9 5EQ
© Copyright. The data in UK NEQAS reports are confidential. Participants must
consult the scheme organiser before quoting data from the scheme.
UK NEQAS for Microbiology
PO Box 63003
London NW9 1GH Published at 14:38 on Thursday 20 January 2022
of 4