A day long online training programme was organised by the FAO on quality systems in Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) laboratories to orient members of the Indian Network for Fisheries and Animal Antimicrobial Resistance (INFAAR) on September 24, 2020.

The importance of quality in the functioning of laboratories working on AMR, particularly in developing countries, has been universally recognized and is now led by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and corresponding national organizations. The INFAAR is mandated to generate quality results on prevalence and trends of antimicrobial resistance in India. INFAAR laboratories have been strengthening their quality management system to assure accuracy and reliability of its results which have bearing upon policy formulation and programme development for rational use of antibiotics.

                                             
The training was attended by 35 participants that included members of INFAAR, and senior officials of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR). Apart from FAO staff, the training was imparted by Prof Balaji Veeraraghvan of Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, Prof MM Prasad, Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Kochi, Kerala, and Prof Jyoti Iravane, Governmentt Medical College, Aurangabad, Maharashtra.  

The following four  subjects of quality were discussed: [1]  key elements of a quality system and assessment of quality; [2] importance of quality and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); [3] validation in laboratories; and [4] an overview of antibiotic sensitivity determination and participation in the external quality assessment scheme.

FAO also reiterated continuous support to INFAAR to enhance its quality system to enable it to generate reliable data on AMR.