Results of the Portuguese pilot EQA program in SARS-CoV-2, PCR

Introduction: Initial strategy for containing the spread of SARS CoV 2 was the prompt identification of COVID 19 cases, as recommended by the World Health Organization These recommendations demanded an expansion of the laboratory capacity to implement the testing procedures to detect SARS CoV 2. In March 2020 the Portuguese National External Quality Assessment Program ( with the National Reference Laboratory ( organized the 1st External Quality Assessment pilot program (for detection of SARS CoV 2 virus by molecular methods Aim: Implementation of a national external quality assessment program for the molecular detection of SARS CoV 2 virus. Performance evaluation and monitoring of the implemented PCR tests for SARS CoV 2 detection in Portuguese Laboratory Network, and the differentiation between the new coronavirus and the seasonal coronavirus.