Exporting quality—

Australia offers HIV test monitoring to the world

27 April 2005, Sydney

An Australian program is ensuring the quality of HIV testing in 17 countries worldwide—and that number looks set to grow, says Fresh Innovator Wayne Dimech of the National Serology Reference Laboratory, Australia (NRL) in Melbourne who has managed the program’s development.

The public depends on the reliability of laboratory tests. When a US laboratory recently issued faulty HIV results, for instance, some 460 people had to be re-tested.

“Our system, known as EDCNet, compares the accuracy and reproducibility of laboratory results around the world. It gives laboratories and the public, reason for greater confidence in test results.”

Dimech is about to head overseas to promote the NRL’s EDCNet quality control software in the US. “We see our system as being of benefit throughout the whole area of blood testing,” he says. “It can enhance the protection of the world’s blood supplies against contamination with viruses.”

In order to use the system, a laboratory tests an NRL-approved standard sample, and sends the result to a common database via the EDCNet website. The custom-designed software allows the laboratory to compare its result to those of its peers globally.

EDCNet was developed by the NRL in 2001 in collaboration with Victorian software house, Myretsu. Already, it has become a key component of national quality assurance programs for blood screening in five countries, including Australia.

The next goal, Dimech says, is to have governments and NGOs recognise that EDCNet is an important tool in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

“We think that by increasing the quality of testing we can ensure that precious resources are used most effectively. With EDCNet, other countries can, like Australia, enjoy a higher degree of confidence in testing than is the case currently.”

Fresh Innovators is a national competition that brings the work of early-career innovators to the media and public. The 16 innovators are presenting their work at The Australian Museum in Sydney.

Wayne’s innovation won him a place at Fresh Innovators – a national initiative to bring the work of 16 early career innovators to public attention. Following training in Sydney, the Innovators are talking to the media, schools and business about their ideas. One of the 16 will win a study tour to the UK, courtesy of the British Council Australia.

For more information contact Wayne Dimech m: 0438 844 223 e: wayne@nrl.com.au

Quality control: Wayne in front of the program that allows for quality control across countries.	Numerous results at your fingertips: The user can see a series of results at once using the EDCNet