CMPT offers a wide variety of Proficiency Testing programs for Clinical Microbiology laboratories including culture, identification, susceptibility testing, and direct staining as well as molecular detection of organisms and antibiotic resistance markers. Samples are simulated – not lyophilized- and aim to resemble and behave as real patient’s samples. Clinical microbiology PT programs are adaptable to different laboratory complexities.
Acid Fast Bacilli
This program is suitable for laboratories performing Acid Fast stains to detect Acid Fast Bacilli in clinical samples. Microscopy only.
3 slides for staining per shipment
3 shipments per year
Clinical Bacteriology
Covers a wide variety of samples normally received by laboratories for bacteriology culture, identification, susceptibility testing, and Gram staining as well as challenge that targets extra analytical issues in the laboratory. Adaptable to different laboratory complexities.
1 smear for Gram staining, 1 paper/video challenge, 1 to 5 samples for culture per shipment
4 shipments per year
Supplementary Gram Program
2 additional smears for Gram staining per shipment
2 shipments per year
Clostridioides difficile
Simulated stools for determining C. difficile common antigen, toxins, and toxin genes by any available method.
2 simulated stool samples per shipment
2 shipments per year
Enteric Panel
Simulated stools for laboratories investigating Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, Campylobacter species, Vibrio species, Aeromonas species, and Escherichia coli O157 H7 by Multiplex or other molecular methods.
4 simulated samples per shipment
2 shipments per year
Screening/Molecular
This program provides proficiency testing to laboratories screening for the presence of MRSA, VRE, group B streptococcus, group A streptococcus, and Carbapenem resistant Enterobacterales. Each subprogram can be ordered individually.
4 simulated swab samples per shipment for each program
2 shipments per year
Shiga Toxin
Samples are simulated stools that can be used to determine Shiga Toxin-producing organisms by any available method. Includes non-O157:H7 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli variants.
3 samples per shipment
2 shipments per year
Trichomonas Vaginalis
Simulated vaginal samples that can be used to detect Trichomonas vaginalis antigen or nucleic acid by any detection method.
4 samples per shipment
3 shipments per year
Enteric Parasitology
Actual clinical samples fixed in formalin solution; volume provided is enough for laboratories to perform concentration techniques and to prepare permanent stained slides.
3 samples per shipment
3 shipments per year
Enteric Parasitology – Molecular
Actual clinical fresh stool samples in Cary Blair medium for detection of parasites using molecular methods.
3 samples per shipment
3 shipments/year
Mycology
Covers a wide variety of samples normally received by laboratories for culture, identification, susceptibility testing, and direct examination. The program is adaptable to different laboratory complexities.
3 simulated fungal slides for direct examination
3 simulated samples for culture and identification
3 shipments per year
Fungal Slides
This program is suitable for laboratories performing direct examination of skin/scalp/nail scrapings by KOH/Calcofluor methods to detect dermatophytes. Microscopy only.
3 simulated fungal slides for direct examination
3 shipments per year
Covid-19
Simulated nasopharyngeal samples for laboratories performing testing for SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19) by antigen or nucleic acid detection methods.
4 samples per shipment
3 shipments/year
Covid-19 Verification Panel
A 15-sample verification panel is available for laboratories that need to comply with accreditation bodies’ requirements.
Respiratory Panel
Simulated nasopharyngeal samples for laboratories performing testing for respiratory viruses (Influenza A, B, and RSV). Influenza A and B samples are suitable for nucleic acid and antigen testing; RSV samples are suitable for nucleic acid testing only.
3 sets of 3 simulated nasopharyngeal samples per shipment
3 shipments per year
