Quality in Diagnostic Microbiology: Experiential Note to Emphasize Value of Internal Control Programs
QC 2/2010 was a Streptococcus pneumoniae isolate grown from the ear swab received from a 66-year-old man. The history indicated “otitis media with perforated ear drum.” The susceptibility reports on Str. pneumoniae were accurate. However, there was considerable variation in the identification report []. There was found to be contaminating S. aureus in this QC dispatch. The subcultures were prepared with a single mucoid Str. pneumoniae colony from a primary plate, but later realized there was S. aureus underneath the colony. There was also a viability problem with this isolate.