Objective: To analyze the results of national external quality assessment (EQA) for transfusion compatibility test from 2018 to 2023, with the aim of providing references for improving laboratory testing quality and ensuring the safety of clinical blood transfusion. Methods: Three EQA programs were conducted annually, each distributing 22 quality assessment samples. Participating transfusion laboratories were required to complete testing within specified deadlines and to submit results along with documentation of testing methodologies, reagents, and equipment used. National Center for Clinical Laboratories (NCCL) conducted statistical analysis of laboratory results, evaluated testing outcomes and related circumstances, and provided feedback to participating laboratories. EQA data from transfusion laboratories across China from 2018 to 2023 were collected and systematically analyzed. Results: From 2018 to 2023, the qualification rates for all five items (ABO forward typing, ABO reverse typing, Rh blood group typing, antibody screening, and cross-matching) were 67.59%, 77.11%, 77.38%, 72.78%, 79.96%, and 85.16%, respectively. The mean qualification rates for ABO forward typing, ABO reverse typing, RhD blood group typing, antibody screening, and cross-matching over the past six years were 96.25%±0.59%, 90.45%±4.52%, 96.05%±0.71%, 90.88%±2.86%, and 88.34%±3.48%, respectively. The qualification rates in 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023 all showed a stable trend of "blood stations>tertiary hospitals>secondary hospitals". The mean qualification rate of laboratories in secondary hospitals from 2018 to 2023 was significantly lower than those of laboratories in tertiary hospitals and blood stations (P<0.05), while no significant difference was observed between laboratories in tertiary hospitals and blood stations (P>0.05). The micro column agglutination method was the most widely used in all five tests. In the four test items, namely ABO forward typing, ABO reverse typing, antibody screening, and cross-matching, there was a statistically significant difference in the qualification rate of micro column agglutination method compared to other methods (P<0.05). There was a statistical difference in the qualification rate between manual and automated detection using micro column agglutination method in the cross-matching tests (P<0.05), whereas no significant difference was noted for the other test items (P>0.05). Conclusion: From 2018 to 2023, the number of laboratories participating in EQA activities has been increasing year by year, and the qualification rate has shown an overall upward trend. The type of laboratory is a key factor affecting the qualification rate, and the testing capabilities of some laboratories still need to be improved. The micro column agglutination method is widely used in transfusion compatibility tests. The established EQA program effectively monitors quality issues in laboratories, drives continuous improvement, and ensures sustained enhancement of testing standards to safeguard clinical blood safety.

A 51-year-old female patient was admitted to the hospital due to abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever lasting for one day. The clinical diagnosis was acute pelvic inflammatory disease and adenomyosis. Empirical treatment with cefoperazone/sulbactam sodium was given. Six days later, the blood culture reported Campylobacter jejuni ( C. jejuni), and nine days later, the patient was discharged with negative blood culture. The strain was identified as C. jejuni by morphology and matrix-assisted laser de-sorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Whole-genome sequencing predicted that the multi-locus sequence type was ST7268 (ST464 complex), which was a new invasive clone of foodborne C. jejuni with typical molecular characteristics of high vitality, high virulence and high resistance.

Objective:To analyze the results of national external quality assessment (EQA) for transfusion compatibility test in 2023, and provide reference for quality management of clinical transfusion compatibility testing.Methods:The EQA of clinical transfusion compatibility testing by NCCL was performed 3 times in 2023 among included laboratories. The panel consisting of 22 samples was distributed to 4 186 laboratories across 31 provinces (Including 2 961 tertiary hospital laboratories, 1 085 secondary hospital laboratories, 23 primary hospital laboratories, 106 blood station laboratories and 11 independent clinical laboratories). Each panel contains 11 red blood cell and 11 plasma samples per 1.5 ml/tube. Each participant laboratory of the EQA program was required to carry out the detection and return results in expected time. Statistical analysis and evaluation on the reported results were conducted by NCCL from the aspects of regional distribution, laboratory grading, testing methodology, reagent and testing system usage.Results:The qualification rates of EQA for five items including ABO positive typing, ABO reverse typing, RhD blood type, antibody screening, and cross matching were 96.68%, 95.10%, 96.46%, 95.32%, and 91.04%, respectively. The EQA qualification rate of tertiary hospital laboratories was 87.77% (2 599/2 961), which was significantly higher than the 77.79% (844/1 085) of secondary hospital laboratories. There were significant differences in the qualification rate of participating laboratories among different regions. The utilization rates of micro column agglutination method in ABO positive typing, ABO reverse typing, RhD blood type, antibody screening, and cross matching were 80.81% (10 080/12 474), 75.06% (9 337/12 440), 81.38% (10 118/12 433), 89.59% (11 104/12 394) and 76.25% (9 495/12 453), respectively. The qualification rate of micro column agglutination method was significantly higher than that of saline slide method in ABO positive typing detection ( P<0.05). The qualification rate of micro column agglutination method was significantly higher than that of the polyamine method and anti-human globulin test tube method in antibody screening ( P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in qualification rate of 7 reagents in ABO reverse typing, antibody screening and cross matching ( P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the qualification rate between the two detection systems for other reagents, except for the ABO reverse typing where the qualification rate of reagent 1 in a single system was higher than that in a mixed system ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The testing capabilities of clinical laboratories in different regions and different type varied significantly in China. Micro column agglutination method was the most popular selection in transfusion compatibility testing. The regents used in these laboratories showed good performance. However, the detection efficiency of some reagents still need to be improved. EQA could be used to evaluate, monitor, and improve the quality of testing.

Purpose To explore the value of the clinical radiomics nomogram based on ultrasound in evaluating the degree of fibrosis in chronic kidney disease(CKD).Materials and Methods This retrospective study included 350 patients with CKD in Nanchong Central Hospital from January 2014 to July 2022 who underwent renal biopsy.The patients were categorized by the tubule atrophy with interstitial fibrosis(TA/IF)and divided into a training cohort(n=245)and test cohort(n=105).The patient demographics were evaluated to establish a clinical prediction model.The XGBoost machine learning model was constructed by extracting the radiomics features from the ultrasound images.The clinical radiomics nomogram prediction model was constructed by combining the radiomics score(Rad score)and important clinical features.The diagnostic performance of the three models was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.Results Among the 350 patients with CKD,226 had TA/IF 0 and 124 had TA/IF 1.Based on the clinical characteristics and Rad score,the clinical radiomics nomogram prediction model had the highest area under the curve in the training and testing cohorts,with the area under the curve of 0.938(95%CI 0.909-0.969)and 0.933(95%CI 0.891-0.980),respectively.Conclusion The ultrasound-based radiomics prediction model has potential value for the noninvasive diagnosis of TA/IF in CKD.Nomogram prediction models based on renal Rad scores and clinic may help clinicians to manage patients.

A 51-year-old female patient was admitted to the hospital due to abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever lasting for one day. The clinical diagnosis was acute pelvic inflammatory disease and adenomyosis. Empirical treatment with cefoperazone/sulbactam sodium was given. Six days later, the blood culture reported Campylobacter jejuni ( C. jejuni), and nine days later, the patient was discharged with negative blood culture. The strain was identified as C. jejuni by morphology and matrix-assisted laser de-sorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Whole-genome sequencing predicted that the multi-locus sequence type was ST7268 (ST464 complex), which was a new invasive clone of foodborne C. jejuni with typical molecular characteristics of high vitality, high virulence and high resistance.

Objective:To analyze the results of national external quality assessment (EQA) for transfusion compatibility test in 2023, and provide reference for quality management of clinical transfusion compatibility testing.Methods:The EQA of clinical transfusion compatibility testing by NCCL was performed 3 times in 2023 among included laboratories. The panel consisting of 22 samples was distributed to 4 186 laboratories across 31 provinces (Including 2 961 tertiary hospital laboratories, 1 085 secondary hospital laboratories, 23 primary hospital laboratories, 106 blood station laboratories and 11 independent clinical laboratories). Each panel contains 11 red blood cell and 11 plasma samples per 1.5 ml/tube. Each participant laboratory of the EQA program was required to carry out the detection and return results in expected time. Statistical analysis and evaluation on the reported results were conducted by NCCL from the aspects of regional distribution, laboratory grading, testing methodology, reagent and testing system usage.Results:The qualification rates of EQA for five items including ABO positive typing, ABO reverse typing, RhD blood type, antibody screening, and cross matching were 96.68%, 95.10%, 96.46%, 95.32%, and 91.04%, respectively. The EQA qualification rate of tertiary hospital laboratories was 87.77% (2 599/2 961), which was significantly higher than the 77.79% (844/1 085) of secondary hospital laboratories. There were significant differences in the qualification rate of participating laboratories among different regions. The utilization rates of micro column agglutination method in ABO positive typing, ABO reverse typing, RhD blood type, antibody screening, and cross matching were 80.81% (10 080/12 474), 75.06% (9 337/12 440), 81.38% (10 118/12 433), 89.59% (11 104/12 394) and 76.25% (9 495/12 453), respectively. The qualification rate of micro column agglutination method was significantly higher than that of saline slide method in ABO positive typing detection ( P<0.05). The qualification rate of micro column agglutination method was significantly higher than that of the polyamine method and anti-human globulin test tube method in antibody screening ( P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in qualification rate of 7 reagents in ABO reverse typing, antibody screening and cross matching ( P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the qualification rate between the two detection systems for other reagents, except for the ABO reverse typing where the qualification rate of reagent 1 in a single system was higher than that in a mixed system ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The testing capabilities of clinical laboratories in different regions and different type varied significantly in China. Micro column agglutination method was the most popular selection in transfusion compatibility testing. The regents used in these laboratories showed good performance. However, the detection efficiency of some reagents still need to be improved. EQA could be used to evaluate, monitor, and improve the quality of testing.

Purpose To explore the value of the clinical radiomics nomogram based on ultrasound in evaluating the degree of fibrosis in chronic kidney disease(CKD).Materials and Methods This retrospective study included 350 patients with CKD in Nanchong Central Hospital from January 2014 to July 2022 who underwent renal biopsy.The patients were categorized by the tubule atrophy with interstitial fibrosis(TA/IF)and divided into a training cohort(n=245)and test cohort(n=105).The patient demographics were evaluated to establish a clinical prediction model.The XGBoost machine learning model was constructed by extracting the radiomics features from the ultrasound images.The clinical radiomics nomogram prediction model was constructed by combining the radiomics score(Rad score)and important clinical features.The diagnostic performance of the three models was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.Results Among the 350 patients with CKD,226 had TA/IF 0 and 124 had TA/IF 1.Based on the clinical characteristics and Rad score,the clinical radiomics nomogram prediction model had the highest area under the curve in the training and testing cohorts,with the area under the curve of 0.938(95%CI 0.909-0.969)and 0.933(95%CI 0.891-0.980),respectively.Conclusion The ultrasound-based radiomics prediction model has potential value for the noninvasive diagnosis of TA/IF in CKD.Nomogram prediction models based on renal Rad scores and clinic may help clinicians to manage patients.

A 19-year-old male patient was admitted to a community hospital in Yangpu District of Shanghai in September 2023 due to diarrhea (4 times per day, watery stool) for 3 consecutive days. The patient had a history of eating out at a barbecue restaurant the night before the onset. The case accorded with diarrhea disease surveillance, and the pathogen was isolated as "non-A-F serogroup Salmonella" by the public health laboratory in the area where the patient′s feces swab was collected. The strain was identified as Salmonella Urbana ST512 by serological typing, antimicrobial resistance phenotype, and whole genome sequencing analysis in the Reference Lab, and then compared with the regional serotype database of Salmonella in China. At last, the patient was cured after taking levofloxacin orally for 3 days.

A 57-year-old male patient was admitted to Shanghai Huashan Hospital due to recurrent systemic sclerosis in May 2023. The patient presented with mild diarrhea (2-3 times per day) and was suspected of having concurrent infectious diarrhea. Fecal samples, after selective enrichment and isolation, identified a'non-A-F serogroup Salmonella′. Salmonella Michigan ST2065 was identified in the reference laboratory by serotyping, drug resistance phenotyping, whole genome sequencing and cross-referencing with the regional serotype database of Salmonella in China. Combined with drug resistance and virulence results, the strain was determined to exhibit a phenotype characterized by high drug resistance and low enterotoxin production. The patient was prescribed oral tigecycline for 7 days and was discharged with improved symptoms.

A 49-year-old female examinee, employed at a paper company in Guigang, Guangxi (engaged in the production of napkins), visited the Qintang District People′s Hospital in Guigang on June 11, 2023, to apply for a health certificate. Salmonella was isolated during a physical examination screening for enteric pathogens ( Salmonella, Shigella), and repeated use of empirical antibacterial drugs failed to eradicate the pathogen. A reference laboratory identified the two isolates as S. Kentucky ST198 by performing serotyping, drug resistance phenotyping, and whole genome sequencing. Based on the regional serotype database of Salmonella in China, a phylogenetic tree of S. Kentucky ST198 resistance genotypes was constructed, defining both isolated strains as high-level drug-resistant ST198.2-1 subclade clones. Following a multidisciplinary consultation and based on antimicrobial susceptibility test results, the treatment was adjusted to amoxicillin/clavulanate and azithromycin. On August 19, three consecutive negative test results confirmed the eradication of Salmonella Kentucky.