Analysis of external quality assessment results of bacteria screening in China International Transfusion Infection Control (CITIC), 2019 to 2025
10.13303/j.cjbt.issn.1004-549x.2026.08.007
- VernacularTitle:2019—2025年中国国际输血感染预防和控制（CITIC）项目细菌检测室间质量评价结果分析
- Author:
Jianhao YANG
1
;
Yun LU
1
;
Yingjiao CHEN
1
;
Yuyang XU
1
;
Yi DU
1
;
Tianyan HU
1
;
Yi ZHANG
1
;
Yingjie QIU
1
Author Information
1. Shanghai Blood Center, Shanghai 200051, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
whole blood and blood components;
bacterial contamination;
external quality assessment;
blood culture;
blood transfusion safety
- From:
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion
2026;39(8):1039-1045
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective: To assess the current status of bacterial detection capabilities in various blood collection and supply and related laboratories across China, and to identify key factors affecting the consistency of test results. Methods: A pooled analysis was conducted on data from 21 external quality assessment (EQA) rounds for blood bacterial detection carried out by the China International Transfusion Infection Prevention and Control (CITIC) project from 2019 to 2025. The study covered three types of laboratories-blood centers, central blood stations, and commercial laboratories—across 23 provincial-level administrative regions in China. Statistics were compiled on the number of participating laboratories, and the concordance rates were calculated for different institution types, different automated blood culture systems, different bacterial concentrations, and different strains. Non-standard reporting issues were also reviewed, and statistical methods were applied for analysis. Results: Over the seven-year period, the number of participating laboratories increased from 161 to 236, with an average annual growth rate of 6.58%, and the annual concordance rates ranged from 82.61% to 94.92%. The overall laboratory concordance rates for the three types of participating laboratories were all>89.0% (P>0.05), while commercial laboratories showed a significant year-by-year increase (70.97%-100%, P<0.05). The concordance rates of automated blood culture systems from eight manufacturers showed no significant differences (97.98%-100%, P>0.05), indicating stable performance across all devices. The overall sample concordance rate was 98.88%, with negative samples showing a lower rate than positive samples (97.97% vs 99.14%); positive sample rates increased with higher concentrations; and low-concentration Gram-negative bacterial samples had a lower concordance rate than Gram-positive ones (93.15% vs 100%). A total of 50 instances of non-standard result reporting were identified, with incorrect time units accounting for the highest proportion (52.0%). Conclusion The participation scale and overall testing proficiency of blood collection and supply and related laboratories nationwide have improved year by year, and all types of automated blood culture devices can meet the requirements for blood bacterial screening. Detection of negative and low-concentration positive samples remains a weak link in current bacterial EQA, and the standardization of laboratory data reporting requires further strengthening. Continuous: external quality assessment, targeted training, and standardized reporting procedures can effectively enhance the homogenization level of blood bacterial testing across the country and ensure the safety of clinical transfusion.
