Workshops
The EQAsia workshop is one of the programme's core activities. The workshop is a venue for training and networking across the network of laboratories within EQAsia.
The program for the workshop is based on needs and requests within the network, however, focuses on two main topics:
Quality Management Systems (QMS) and AMR laboratory training.
QMS modules targets quality managers and officers overseeing laboratory quality management systems and are tailored to provide in-depth insights into quality management principles, methodologies, and best practices, in line with ISO 17025:2017, CLSI, and ISO 15189:2012. The goal of the modules are to equip participants with the skills needed to implement and maintain effective quality management systems in their laboratories. Topics may include the historical perspective of QMS, the 12 quality system essentials, sample and document management, and conducting laboratory audits.
AMR laboratory training is designed for laboratory staff involved in AMR diagnostics, monitoring, surveillance, and external quality assurance in bacterial identification and AST. The training refreshes and advances knowledge on AMR detection and characterization through an array of lectures and hands-on practical exercises. Topics may include rapid diagnostic methods, Salmonella serotyping, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, detection of specific resistance mechanisms, bacterial storage, whole-genome sequencing, genotypic AMR profiling, basic bioinformatics for next-generation sequencing, and its application for phylogeny and outbreak investigation