Abstract: Objective To investigate the technical capability of STD laboratories in Guangdong Province by external quality assessment.Methods A total of 3330 samples were prepared and delivered to STD laboratories for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Herpes simplex virus(HSV)antigen, non-treponemal and treponemal quantitative and qualitative tests for syphilis,mycoplasma and gonococcal culture and discharge smear reading.Results Ninety-five laboratories in Guangdong Province were enrolled in this assessment in 2005,and obtained an average score of 84.5.The average scores for quality assessment in decreasing order were 98.3 for non-treponemal qualitative test,95.1 for HSV antigen,94.0 for C.trachoma-tis antigen,89.3 for treponemal qualitative test,83.9 for non-treponemal quantitative test,83.6 for discharge smear-reading,81.0 for mycoplasma culture,77.8 for treponemal quantitative test,and 57.8 for gonococcal culture.Among the laboratories evaluated,90.5% were eligible with a score of more than 60,and 68.3% were higher than the provincial average level(SI≥0).Conclusions The technical capability of STD lab-oratories has been generally enhanced due to standardized construction.However,several laboratories still need to improve in choice of qualified test reagents,operation procedures,accuracy and standardization of reporting,and so on.

Key words: Sexually transmitted diseases, Laboratories,hospital, Quality control