PulseNet Canada Certification Program
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Description/Panel composition: The WGS FASTQ certification panel is comprised of 2-6 isolates which may belong to any of the following Genera: Escherichia coli, Shigella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, or Salmonella spp. The WGS analysis panel is comprised of 21 FASTQ files: 7 of Escherichia coli or Shigella spp., 7 Listeria monocytogenes and 7 Salmonella spp.
Determination of assigned value: Assigned values are determined based on the results obtained from the same set of isolates at the PulseNet Canada National Laboratory.
Evaluation of performance: FASTQ certification submissions are evaluated based on whether the submitted isolates meet the minimum required quality criteria specified in the certification instructions package.
Analysis certification submissions are evaluated based on whether participants have correctly identified the related isolates and correctly assessed that the data quality meets the minimum required quality criteria specified in the certification instruction package.
Report distribution: Reports are distributed 4 weeks after the submission deadline.
The WGS FASTQ certification panel covers the generation of WGS data for downstream analysis. The WGS analysis certification panel covers the quality assessment and analysis of WGS data. Laboratories must be certified prior to submitting data to the PulseNet Canada National databases as well as to gain access to the National databases.
There is no participation fee.
Any laboratory (regional or national) which is interested in performing WGS on Escherichia coli, Shigella sp., Listeria monocytogenes, or Salmonella sp and uploading to the PulseNet Canada databases for inclusion in the national database for the purposes of outbreak detection and surveillance
Participant contact information and results are confidential, certification results are only shared with the submitting participant.