Quality Assurance and Proficiency Testing in the Canadian Equine Drug Control Program

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe Quality Assurance Program (QAP) administered by the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA) has evolved over the past 17 years, in concert with the CPMA's equine drug research program. This program consists of site inspections, reports, and a check sample program. Participating laboratories also maintain internal quality control systems and are accredited for this scope of testing.The check sample program monitors routine screening and target testing of urine and blood for drugs using thin-layer chromatography or instrumental methods. The process is based on samples obtained after administration of drugs to horses, founded on results of CPMA's research. Common drugs in equine veterinary practice, and of interest in horse racing, are monitored. These include centrally active and cardiovascular drugs, diuretics and local anesthetics, respiratory and anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants and analgesics. The QAP provides a useful measure of laboratory performance for the Canadian racing industry.More recently, as part of the CPMA's partnership with Standards Council of Canada to accredit racing laboratories to ISO/IEC Guide 25, a proficiency test specific to this scope was implemented. Each cycle consists of 10 qualitative analysis samples of lyophilized, spiked equine urine, and 2 quantitative analysis samples of frozen, spiked equine serum or urine. For quantitative analysis, laboratory results must agree within ±20% of target or consensus mean value for drugs reported in the pg/mL range, or within ±40% for drugs reported in the ng/mL range. A reference laboratory prepares samples and conducts reference analysis. To date, 5 cycles of proficiency testing have been successfully completed by the participating labs.Program design and implementation activities, and results from both quality assurance and proficiency testing programs are presented and interpreted.