Testing the Tests: Performance of Norovirus Antigen Assays in New EQA Scheme

Norovirus is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis and frequently causes outbreaks in healthcare and other closed settings spreading mainly via the faecal-oral route. Although RT qPCR is the preferred diagnostic method for norovirus diagnosis, rapid antigen detection assays are widely used  because they provide fast and practical results. As antigen assay sensitivity may vary, external quality assessment (EQA) is important for monitoring  reliable performance. This study presents the successful results of a newly developed international EQA scheme for norovirus antigen detection by EQA provider Labquality.