Selvakumar, N and Prabhakaran, E and Murthy, B N and Sivagamasundari, S and Vasanthan, S and Govindaraju, R and Perumal, M and Wares, F and Chauhan, L S and Santha, T and Narayanan, P R (2005) Application of lot sampling of sputum AFB smears for the assessment of microscopy centres. International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 9 (3). pp. 306-309. ISSN Print: 1027-3719; Online: 1815-7920
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Abstract
SETTING: Designated microscopy centres (DMC) and additional microscopy centres (AMC) performing sputum acid-fast bacilli (AFB) microscopy, the District TB Centre (DTC) and a reference laboratory (RL). OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the feasibility of adopting lot sampling of AFB smears and to assess the performance of MCs employing Senior Tuberculosis Laboratory Supervisors (STLS) with no knowledge about the principles of quality assurance of AFB microscopy and RL-based laboratory technicians with training on quality assurance for blinded checking of AFB smears. METHODS: Slides from MCs were transported to the DTC and the RL; 20 smears per month per MC were selected systematically; 1547 slides from DMCs and 726 from AMCs were checked, respectively, by STLSs at the DTC and by RL laboratory technicians. Discrepancies were resolved by referee. RESULTS: The discrepancy between MC laboratory technicians and STLSs at the DTC was 4.7%, compared to 1% at the RL. The STLSs and RL-based laboratory technicians had 70 and 2 errors, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Lot sampling of AFB smears is feasible under field conditions. Assessment of MCs was more valid with RL-based technicians trained in principles of quality assurance of sputum AFB microscopy than with STLSs with no such training and working in the field.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | pulmonary tuberculosis; lot sampling; sputum smears; AFB; quality control |
| Subjects: | Tuberculosis > Laboratory Research > Bacteriological |
| Divisions: | Basic Science Research > Bacteriology |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Rathinasabapati R |
| Date Deposited: | 28 Nov 2013 11:18 |
| Last Modified: | 09 Mar 2016 08:51 |
| URI: | http://eprints.nirt.res.in/id/eprint/721 |
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