Objective  To evaluate the performance of measles and rubella laboratory network in Gansu province from 2005 to 2022.

Methods The information about the performance of measles and rubella laboratory network in Gansu from 2005 to 2022, including case diagnosis, etiological test, virus genotyping, achievement in surveillance and assessment results, were collected for a statistical analysis. IgM antibodies were detected in suspected measles and rubella serological specimens using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and viral nucleic acid was detected in suspected measles and rubella pharyngeal swab specimens using real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT PCR).

Results  The network consisted of 16 laboratories, including 1 laboratory at provincial level, 14 laboratories at prefectural (municipal) level, 1 laboratory at county level. The laboratories at all levels were classified according to their responsibilities and functions. From 2005 to 2022, ELISA was used to for the IgG detections of measles and rubella viruses. A total of 24 338 serum samples of measles cases were detected by the laboratory network, and the measles virus IgM positive rate was 38.76%. A total of 18 092 serum samples of rubella cases were detected by the laboratory network, and the rubella virus IgM positive rate was 19.82%. From 2005 to 2022, the nucleic acid detections of measles and rubella viruses in throat swabs of the cases were performed by qRT-PCR. A total of 13 050 throat swabs of suspected measles case were tested by the laboratory network and the positive rate of measles virus nucleic acid was 28.76%. And 12 569 throat swabs of suspected rubella case were tested by the laboratory network, and the positive rate of rubella virus nucleic acid was 11.39%. A total of 4 791 throat swabs were collected for measles virus detection, from which 574 strains (11.98%) of measles virus were isolated and all were sent to the national measles and rubella laboratory for sequencing and genotyping and identified as genotype H1a. A total of 1 635 throat swabs were collected for rubella virus detection, from which 720 strains of rubella virus were isolated ( 44.04%), and 714 strains were sequenced and genotyped at the national measles and rubella laboratory, in which 333 strains were identified as genotype 1E and 381 strains were identified as genotype 2B. Quality control and technical training were carried out every year for the laboratory network, and the assessment results of all laboratories were good.

Conclusion The performance of measles and rubella laboratory network in Gansu was well, and the improvements in diagnosis sensitivity and surveillance capacity ofthe laboratory network had been made. At the same time, strict quality control had ensured the accuracy and efficiency of laboratory data, providing a strong technical guarantee for measles elimination and rubella prevention and control and data support for the subsequent measles and rubella elimination in Gansu.