Selvakumar, N
(2003)
Role of laboratory in RNTCP.
Journal of Indian Medical Association, 101 (3).
pp. 173-174.
ISSN 0019-5847
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem in many parts of the world. Sputum smear microscopy is the mainstay
of diagnosis of TB. RNTCP follows the international guidelines which recommend the establishment of microscopy centre for every
100,000 population. All patients with a cough of three weeks or more should undergo 3 sputum diagnostic examinations for acidfast
bacilli (AFB). A separateTB laboratory register is maintained in each microscopy centre. Disposal of laboratory waste should be
destroyed. One slide from each patient is sent to the District TB Centre (DTC) for external quality assurance (EQA). The activities
of the microscopy centres in aTB unit are supervised by a Senior TB Laboratory Supervisor (STLS). The STLS visits every microscopy
centre at least once a month. Sputum samples from patients who fail RNTCP treatment are sent to the nearest reference laboratory for
culture of M tuberculosis and drug susceptibility testing; however there is no need to send patient samples routinely for culture.
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