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Proficiency Testing
REDEFINED
LabStats is OCWA's upgraded inter-lab program, designed to comply with Proficiency Testing requirements under ISO 17043:2010, for evaluation of respiratory viruses in wastewater matrices.
OCWA develops technical guidance (Protocol for Evaluation of RT-qPCR Performance Characteristics) to align
performance criteria for WSI laboratories
January 2022
OCWA's validated sample splitting method published in ASCE's Journal of Environmental Engineering;
Protocol updates released
August 2022
OCWA contributes to Royal Society of Canada's Policy Briefing "Wastewater Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in Canada"
Summer 2020
Canadian Water Network (CWN) leads the first inter-lab study for COVID-19 wastewater surveillance in Canada
January - February 2021
First samples collected and distributed to inter-lab participants
November 2021
Omicron pandemic wave overwhelms COVID-19 clinical testing capacity in Ontario and many jurisdictions worldwide
July 2022
Inter-lab services expanded to serve Canadian wastewater surveillance laboratories with the support of Public Health Agency of Canada National Microbiology Laboratory (PHAC-NML), interlabs.ca was born
March 2024
OCWA applies to Standards Council of Canada (SCC) for accreditation as an ISO 17043:2010 certified Proficiency Testing Provider, labstats.ca was born