Notice to EMPAT Participants

Transcription

1 Notice to EMPAT Participants 1. Please note the following contacts: Please direct all import permit questions and sample receiving issues to Applied Environmental, Inc. by at Please direct all other correspondence to AIHA PAT Programs: o For enrollment issues, please contact Anthony Hodge by telephone at (703) or at ahodge@aiha.org. o For results issues, please contact Angela Oler by telephone at (703) or at aoler@aiha.org. 2. In order to receive full credit for your test results it will be necessary to: Mark whether or not growth was observed on each sample. If this section is not complete, the laboratory will receive a SCORE OF 0 FOR THE SAMPLE. Report results with the appropriate corresponding sample number. Results reported in the incorrect space will receive a SCORE OF 0 FOR THE SAMPLE. Clearly indicate species name under Species heading. Reporting the species name under the Genus heading will result in a SCORE OF 0 FOR SPECIES IDENTIFICATION. Sign and date under Authorizing Signature. Failure to sign off on report will result in a SCORE OF 0 FOR THE ENTIRE ROUND. Incorrect spelling of organism names. Incorrect spelling of genus name will result in a SCORE OF 0 FOR THE SAMPLE. Incorrect spelling of the species name will result in a SCORE OF -1 FOR SPECIES IDENTIFICATION. 3. Additionally (will not affect participant score): Write clearly (print) or type. Clearly indicate genus name under Genus heading. It is not necessary to indicate species or sp. Extraneous Comments. Notes or comments should be addressed on a separate page and not on the result booklet. Fungi Only Participants. It is not necessary to indicate on the result form N/A, Organization Does Not Test Bacteria, Not received by organization, etc. for bacterial challenges. 4. Participants may retest the most current round if they are unsatisfied with their scores. Retest request forms may be found on the AIHA PAT Programs website. All requests for retests must be submitted to Anthony Hodge no later than one week after receipt of round results. AIHA Proficiency Analytical Testing Programs 3141 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 777, Falls Church, VA USA main fax info.patllc@aiha.org web

2 July 30, 2014 Round 54 Results Dear EMPAT Program Participant, Please find enclosed the results of your performance for the AIHA Proficiency Analytical Testing (PAT) Programs Environmental Microbiology Proficiency Analytical Testing (EMPAT) Program. Prior to shipment of the regular round, non-participating Reference Laboratories validated all challenge isolates. Challenges included in re-test shipments previously passed scoring acceptance criteria in the regular round shipments. The following three reports are enclosed for the Shipment of: 02-June Your individual scored results (the definition of the scoring mechanism follows in this letter). This includes a summary of your performance in the last 3 rounds that indicates your proficiency status (see the Participant Proficiency section). 2. Profiles of the challenge organisms [also posted on the AIHA PAT Programs EMPAT website: 3. Participant Frequency Report that provides statistical summary of results from all participants in the round. Scoring - Scoring is based on the following point system: +9 Points = Correctly identified at the genus level +1 Point = Correctly identified at the species level -1 Point = Incorrectly identified at the species level -5 Points = Incorrectly identified a second organism when only one was included in the challenge or missed identification of a second organism when two were included in the challenge 0 Points = Incorrectly identified at the genus level NOTE: BLANK SAMPLES ARE NOT SCORED. Each area of testing (Fungi and Bacteria) has the possibility of achieving a maximum full credit correct score of 30.0 points. Currently identification to species level is optional, but is strongly encouraged. Participants that correctly identify the genus and species will receive full credit of 10 points. Participants that correctly identify to genus, but do not attempt to identify to species level will receive 9 points. Participants that correctly identify the genus, but incorrectly attempt species identification will receive 8 points. Participants that incorrectly report the presence of 2 organisms when only 1 was included in the challenge or that miss reporting identification of the second organism when 2 were included will receive half credit. A participant that receives significantly lower scores than 30.0 in a specific testing area should carefully examine their procedures and take any necessary corrective actions in order to improve performance. Additionally, it is important to be aware that taxonomical naming conventions do frequently change, and to avoid confusion, the latest designation, as well as former nomenclature, should be used and properly notated when reporting results. Scoring Deviations No scoring deviations for Round 54. AIHA Proficiency Analytical Testing Programs 3141 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 777, Falls Church, VA USA main fax info.patllc@aiha.org web

3 Round 54 Results Educational Comment No educational comments for Round 54. For more information on the organisms, see the organism profiles. Participant Proficiency The Proficiency Analytical Testing (PAT) Board oversees EMPAT proficiency testing. A participant will be rated proficient for the applicable PT if the participant passes a minimum of two out of the last three consecutive EMPAT rounds. A passing round score in either PT category (Fungi, Bacteria) will require a minimum scoring percentage of 85%. Your organization's score over the last three rounds is presented both numerically and graphically as part of the result report in order to show your organization's current progress towards proficiency. General Announcements Use your unique identifying EMPAT Number on all of your results forms and correspondence. We encourage you to maintain the proficiency testing bacterial and fungal isolates in your culture collection for future reference. Stock Samples To gain additional practice in identification techniques or to increase the size of your culture collection for future reference, it is possible to order EMPAT Samples from previous rounds (past two years). To do so, please complete a Stock Sample Order Form from and return it to Anthony Hodge with payment. Each set of stock samples comes with an organism profile. Next Round The next round, Round 55, will be shipped on 06-Oct If applicable, please check import permits to verify that they are current. Result booklets must be received by the due date. Results received after this deadline will not be accepted. Results should be sent via to the EMPAT Data Management Coordinator at: empat.coordinator@appenv.com Participant Updates Please contact Anthony Hodge via with any changes to your mailing and/or contact information. If not already provided, please include your fax number and address. Feedback For feedback and questions about the EMPAT Program, please direct all EMPAT questions and correspondence to: Angela Oler (Result Issues) Anthony Hodge (Enrollment Issues) Manager Manager of Operations AIHA Affiliate Laboratory Programs AIHA Affiliate Laboratory Programs aoler@aiha.org ahodge@aiha.org AIHA Proficiency Analytical Testing Programs 3141 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 777, Falls Church, VA USA main fax info.patllc@aiha.org web

4 AIHA Proficiency Analytical Testing Programs thanks you for your participation in the EMPAT Program. Applied Environmental, Inc., Health Research Services Division is a private company working on behalf of AIHA Proficiency Analytical Testing Programs to manage the data collection and analysis of the microbiological sample results for the EMPAT program. Sincerely, Marcia B. McConnell Marcia B. McConnell Division Manager, Laboratory Proficiency Programs AIHA Proficiency Analytical Testing Programs 3141 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 777, Falls Church, VA USA main fax info.patllc@aiha.org web

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6 Laboratory Response Summary Report - All Labs Results as of: 7/30/2014 6/2014 Round 54 EMPAT Sample Number: 002B EMPAT Sample Number: 002B EMPAT Sample Number: 002B Chryseobacterium gleum 1. Serratia marcescens 1. Bacillus subtilis Identification Frequency ** Identification Frequency ** Identification Frequency ** Freq. Organism Freq. Organism Freq. Organism 25 Chryseobacterium 25 Serratia marcescens 20 Bacillus subtilis 3 Chryseobacterium indologenes 10 Serratia 15 Bacillus 2 Chryseobacterium gleum 2 Other 2 Other 2 Chryseobacterium indoltheticum 2 Chryseobacterium taihuense 3 Other Genus Level Genus Level Genus Level Number of Labs Responding: 37 Number of Labs Responding: 37 Number of Labs Responding: 37 Number of Labs Responding Correctly: 36 Number of Labs Responding Correctly: 36 Number of Labs Responding Correctly: 36 Percent of Labs Responding Correctly: 97.3% Percent of Labs Responding Correctly: 97.3% Percent of Labs Responding Correctly: 97.3% % of Ref Labs Responding Correctly: 100.0% % of Ref Labs Responding Correctly: 100.0% % of Ref Labs Responding Correctly: 100.0% % of Accrd Labs Responding Correctly: 100.0% % of Accrd Labs Responding Correctly: 96.6% % of Accrd Labs Responding Correctly: 96.6% Species Level Species Level Species Level Number of Labs Responding: 26 Number of Labs Responding: 22 Number of Labs Responding: 11 Percent of Labs Responding: 70.3% Percent of Labs Responding: 59.5% Percent of Labs Responding: 29.7% Number of Labs Responding Correctly: 25 Number of Labs Responding Correctly: 20 Number of Labs Responding Correctly: 2 Percent of Labs Responding Correctly: 96.2% Percent of Labs Responding Correctly: 90.9% Percent of Labs Responding Correctly: 18.2%

7 Laboratory Response Summary Report - All Labs Results as of: 7/30/2014 6/2014 Round 54 EMPAT Sample Number: 002F EMPAT Sample Number: 002F EMPAT Sample Number: 002F Aspergillus sydowii 1. Penicillium brevicompactum 1. Paecilomyces variotii Identification Frequency ** Identification Frequency ** Identification Frequency ** Freq. Organism Freq. Organism Freq. Organism 44 Aspergillus 54 Penicillium 48 Paecilomyces 33 Aspergillus sydowii 28 Penicillium brevicompactum 32 Paecilomyces variotii 5 Aspergillus versicolor 1 Other 3 Other 1 Other Genus Level Genus Level Genus Level Number of Labs Responding: 83 Number of Labs Responding: 83 Number of Labs Responding: 83 Number of Labs Responding Correctly: 83 Number of Labs Responding Correctly: 81 Number of Labs Responding Correctly: 82 Percent of Labs Responding Correctly: 100.0% Percent of Labs Responding Correctly: 97.6% Percent of Labs Responding Correctly: 98.8% % of Ref Labs Responding Correctly: 100.0% % of Ref Labs Responding Correctly: 100.0% % of Ref Labs Responding Correctly: 100.0% % of Accrd Labs Responding Correctly: 100.0% % of Accrd Labs Responding Correctly: 96.4% % of Accrd Labs Responding Correctly: 100.0% Species Level Species Level Species Level Number of Labs Responding: 29 Number of Labs Responding: 33 Number of Labs Responding: 38 Percent of Labs Responding: 34.9% Percent of Labs Responding: 39.8% Percent of Labs Responding: 45.8% Number of Labs Responding Correctly: 28 Number of Labs Responding Correctly: 32 Number of Labs Responding Correctly: 33 Percent of Labs Responding Correctly: 96.6% Percent of Labs Responding Correctly: 97.0%

8 Organism Profiles EMPAT Culture Round 54 1 CHRSEOBACTRIUM GLEUM 002B Isolation Conditions: Grows well on common laboratory media, including 5% Sheep Blood Agar (SBA) in hours. Growth on MacConkey Agar. Optimum growth temperature C. Growth at 41 C. Macroscopic Morphology: Colonies are yellow-orange pigmented, translucent, circular or low convex, smooth, and shiny with entire edges. Microscopic Morphology: Gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore forming rods with parallel sides and rounded ends; typically 0.5 µm wide and 1 to 3 µm long Environmental Sources and Notable Properties: Occur naturally in soil, water, plants, and foodstuffs. References cited note that C. gleum, C. scophthalmum, and C. indologenes are very similar, with C. gleum and C. indologenes being even more similar. They further note that the growth at 41 C and the weak acid production from xylose are the two factors distinguishing C. gleum from C. indologenes. 2 SERRATIA MARESCENS 002B Isolation Conditions: Grows well on common laboratory media including Trypticase Soy Agar, Blood Agar (5% Sheep), MacConkey Agar; 30-37ºC optimum, in hours Macroscopic Morphology: Small to medium, circular, convex, orange(ish) colonies with pink centers and gray periphery. Many strains produce a pink, red, or magenta pigment. Microscopic Morphology: Gram-negative rods ( µm X µm) Environmental Sources and Notable Properties: Commonly found in water, soil, food, plant surfaces, and contaminated indoor environments. Potential human pathogen. 3 BACILLUS SUBTILLIS 002B Isolation Conditions: Grows well on common laboratory media including 5% Sheep Blood Agar (SBA). Grows well ºC. Macroscopic Morphology: Colonies are irregular in shape and of moderate diameter (2 to 4 mm) and range from moist and butyrous or mucoid through membranous with an underlying mucoid matrix, with or without mucoid beading at the surface, to rough and crusty as they dry.

9 Microscopic Morphology: Gram positive rods with central or paracentral spores. Motile. Environmental Sources and Notable Properties: The main habitats are soils of all kinds, ranging from acidic to alkaline, hot to cold, and fertile to desert, and the water columns and bottom deposits of freshwater bodies and marine waters. Their spores readily survive distribution in soils, dusts, and aerosols from these natural environments to a wide variety of other habitats. 4 ASPERGILLUS SYDOWII 002F Isolation Conditions: Czapek Yeast Extract Agar (CYA) and 2% Malt Extract Agar (MEA) at 25ºC for 4-7 days. Other media also suitable. Macroscopic Morphology: Colonies on CYA reaching mm wide after 7 days, low, radially sulcate, velutinous. Mycelium white to cream; colony is dark turquoise in color with reddish brown exudate; soluble pigment reddish brown to orange brown with reddish brown to orange colony reverse. Microscopic Morphology: Conidial heads radiate; stipes hyaline to pale brown, 3-9 µm wide smooth and thick walled, expanding into spathulate to globose vesicles 7-18 µm wide; Aspergilli biseriate; metulae 4-7 µm long x 2-3 µm wide; phialides 4-8 µm long x 2-3 µm wide; thin smooth walled monoverticillate penicilliate heads also produced; conidia rough walled, subspheroidal to spherical 2.0 to 4.0 µm wide. Environmental Sources and Notable Properties: Aspergillus sydowii is a mesophilic, soil dwelling species. It is not considered a significantly toxigenic species. The species is commonly isolated from dust (>10%) wall cavities (>10%), drywall surfaces (<40% in some geographical locations) and air samples in subtropical and temperate zones. This species has been found to be the dominant fungal taxon in some environmental building samples. It is relatively easily distinguished from the other similar biseriate species from building environments, Aspergillus versicolor, on the basis of its dark green to turquoise colony colors on both MEA and CYA media, conidia that are more strongly echinulate, and by its more delicate conidiophore that support metulae over only 2/3 of the vesicle surface, compared to A. versicolor that supports metulae over almost the entire vesicle surface. 5 PENICILLIN BREVICOMPACTUM 002F Isolation Conditions: Grows well on common laboratory media like 2% Malt Extract agar (MEA) and Czapek Yeast Autolysate (CYA) at 25 C for 7 days. No growth at 37ºC. Macroscopic Morphology: Colonies on MEA at 25ºC mm in diameter, plane or less commonly radially sulcate, usually velutinous;

10 mycelium white; conidiogenesis moderate to heavy, dull green to dark green in color, rarely paler or more bluish; exudates occasionally present, clear to reddish brown; reverse pale or brown. On G25N at 5ºC, micro-colonies to colonies up to 4 mm in diameter are produced. Microscopic Morphology: Conidiophores born from surface mycelium, stipes usually broad, µm long, smooth walled, characteristically bearing compact, broad terverticillate penicilli, usually less than 40 µm long and µm wide, with quaterverticillate and biverticillate penicilli usually evident also; rami borne singly, short and broad, µm long, strongly diverging from the stipe axis; metulae in divergent clusters, short and broad, 9-15 x µm, typically apically inflated, up to 7 µm in diameter; phialides in divergent verticals, ampulliform, 6 9 µm long; conidia ellipsoidal, µm long, with walls smooth to very finely roughened, borne in divergent and disordered chains. Environmental Sources and Notable Properties: Widespread in nature, in soil and decaying vegetation. Common on damp walls and building materials such as gypsum board. Reported from floor, carpet, mattress and upholstered furniture dust. Also isolated from urea-formaldehyde foam insulation, lead paint; cotton yarn; hay, cereals; mushroom compost. Please note: Since it is difficult to distinguish P. brevicompactum from the closely-related P. bialowiezense, both are acceptable responses. The latter species tends to occur predominantly on rotting mushroom fruiting bodies. Penicillium stoloniferum is synonymous with P. brevicompactum and is also an acceptable response 6 PAECILOMYCES VARIOTTI 002F Isolation Conditions: Grows well on common laboratory media like 2% Malt Extract agar (MEA), YM Agar or broth, or Potato Dextrose agar (PDA) 25 C for 7 days. Macroscopic Morphology: Growth rate is rapid and colonies are flat. A powder or velvety texture is seen with maturity within three days of growth. The surface colony color is initially white becoming yellow or sand color. Microscopic Morphology: Conidiophores with vertically arranged branches, bearing phialides, up to 150 μm in length, 3.5 to 6.5 μm wide. Phialides cylindrical or ellipsoidal, tapering abruptly into a long, thin, cylindrical neck. Conidia subspherical, ellipsoidal to fusiform, hyaline to yellow, 35 X 24μm, arising in long, divergent chains. Chlamydospores usually present. Environmental Sources and Notable Properties: Paecilomyces Variotti is a common species in air and food, but is also associated with many human illnesses.

11 Sources: 1. Buchanan, R.E., and N.E. Gibbons (ed.) Bergey s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, 8 th Edition. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, Maryland. 2. Bergey, D.H. et. al Bergey s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, vol. 1, 1 st Edition. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, Maryland. 3. Buchanan, R.E., and N.E. Gibbons (ed.) Bergey s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, 8 th Edition. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, Maryland. 4. de Hoog, G.S. et. al Atlas of Clinical Fungi. 2 nd Edition. Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Netherlands 5. Domsch K. H., et al Compendium of soil fungi. 2 nd Edition. Eching, Germany: IHW-Verlag 6. Frisvad, J. and R.A. Samson "Penicillium subgenus Penicillium: new taxonomic schemes, mycotoxins and other extrolites". Stud Mycol, 49, Holt, John G. et. al Bergey s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology. 9 th Edition. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, Maryland. 8. Koneman, Elmer W. et. al Color Atlas and Textbook of Diagnostic Microbiology. 5 th Edition. J.B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 9. Koneman, Elmer W. et. al Color Atlas and Textbook of Diagnostic Microbiology. 5 th Edition. J.B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 10. McGinnis, M.R Laboratory Handbook of Medical Mycology. New York: Academic Press 11. Raper, K. B. and D.I. Fennell The Genus Aspergillus 12. Murray, P. R., E.J. Baron, M. A. Pfaller, et al Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 7th edition. American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C. 13. Samson, R.A. and van Reenen-Hoekstra, E.S. eds Introduction to Food- and Airborne Fungi, 7 th ed. Baarn: Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, The Netherlands. 14. Scott, J.A. et al A survey of Penicillium brevicompactum and P. bialowiezense from indoor environments, with commentary on the taxonomy of the P. brevicompactum group. Botany 86, Vandamme, P. et. al New Perspectives in the Classification of the Flavobacteria: Description of Chryseobacterium gen. nov., Bergeyella gen. nov., and Empedobacter nom. Rev. Int. J. Syst. Bact., 44 (4): Image: Paecilomyces variotti Image: Bascillus subtillus Image: Penicillin Brevicompactum