The investigation presented here was accomplished using agglutination and agar gel immunodiffusion techniques to compare Azotobacter agilis s 3at, A. chroococcum Italy AC 16, A. macrocytogenes St. M and A. vinelandii ATCC 12837. It was found that the agglutination titers differed sufficiently to allow partial identification of the four species. The homologous and heterologous systems studied by agar gel immunodiffusion tests showed that each of the four Azoto bacter species differed sufficiently in their soluble antigens to give distinct, identifiable patterns of antigen-antibody reactions on Ouchterlony agar plates. These studies also showed several antigens common to the four species tested and the resultant antigen-antibody cross reactions. The results of these investigations suggest that this approach opens a new avenue for the identification of the organisms of genus Azotobacter and perhaps, by extension, the family Azotobacteraceae.

Durante seis meses, os laboratórios de saúde localizados em Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, foram submetidos a uma avaliação externa de qualidade. Esta avaliação constou da análise da concordância de resultados de exames executados para o diagnóstico da sífilis, pela técnica do VDRL. Os resultados foram comparados com os padrões, sendo os laboratórios classificados segundo a performance apresentada. Foi também realizado um levantamento em todos os laboratórios e analisados a formação do pessoal, equipamentos e outras condições que poderiam influir, direta ou indiretamente, na qualidade dos exames. A expectativa de que, na avaliação destes laboratórios, fossem encontrados resultados satisfatórios na qualidade dos exames não se concretizou, havendo deficiências a serem corrigidas. Considerando-se a determinação da percentagem de concordância nos exames qualitativos pelo VDRL nestes laboratórios e a análise das variáveis intervenientes nos resultados, sugere-se a implantação de programas de controle de qualidade interno e de avaliação de qualidade externa. / For six consecutive months, the health laboratories in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, have been under an external quality assessment. This assessment was composed of an analysis of the combination of results of other exams previously prepared to diagnose syphylis using the VDRL test. The results were compared with patterns, and the laboratories classified according to their performances. An evaluation was also prepared among all the laboratories where the formation and qualification of personnel were both analysed, as well as, the equipment and any other external condition which might have influenced direct or indirectly on the quality of the exams. There was an expectation that through the evaluation of such labotories the VDRL test results which could be found would be satisfactory; nevertheless this did not come true. Defficiencies were found which need immediate correction. Considering the determination of the percentage of combination in these qualitative exams done by the VDRL test in those laboratories; the analysis of the intervining variables on the results we suggest an immediate implementation of some sort of internai quality control program as well as the external quality assessment.

Durante seis meses, os laboratórios de saúde localizados em Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, foram submetidos a uma avaliação externa de qualidade. Esta avaliação constou da análise da concordância de resultados de exames executados para o diagnóstico da sífilis, pela técnica do VDRL. Os resultados foram comparados com os padrões, sendo os laboratórios classificados segundo a performance apresentada. Foi também realizado um levantamento em todos os laboratórios e analisados a formação do pessoal, equipamentos e outras condições que poderiam influir, direta ou indiretamente, na qualidade dos exames. A expectativa de que, na avaliação destes laboratórios, fossem encontrados resultados satisfatórios na qualidade dos exames não se concretizou, havendo deficiências a serem corrigidas. Considerando-se a determinação da percentagem de concordância nos exames qualitativos pelo VDRL nestes laboratórios e a análise das variáveis intervenientes nos resultados, sugere-se a implantação de programas de controle de qualidade interno e de avaliação de qualidade externa. / For six consecutive months, the health laboratories in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, have been under an external quality assessment. This assessment was composed of an analysis of the combination of results of other exams previously prepared to diagnose syphylis using the VDRL test. The results were compared with patterns, and the laboratories classified according to their performances. An evaluation was also prepared among all the laboratories where the formation and qualification of personnel were both analysed, as well as, the equipment and any other external condition which might have influenced direct or indirectly on the quality of the exams. There was an expectation that through the evaluation of such labotories the VDRL test results which could be found would be satisfactory; nevertheless this did not come true. Defficiencies were found which need immediate correction. Considering the determination of the percentage of combination in these qualitative exams done by the VDRL test in those laboratories; the analysis of the intervining variables on the results we suggest an immediate implementation of some sort of internai quality control program as well as the external quality assessment.