GLOBAL HEALTH
Figure 1:
Expansion of Scope of Testing
Figure 2:
Illustration of audit scores
based on the SLIPTA Checklist
showing the laboratory’s
improvement on QMS.
Under the technical aspects of the project,
the following have been achieved:
• Implementation of media preparation
• Implementation of culture techniques
(see Table 1)
• Implementation of outbreak response
activities
• Initiation of research activities
• Expansion of the scope of testing,
which has seen statistics move from an
average of 90 tests per month (verbal
information, data not available) to the
current average of 700 tests per month.
Under QMS, the following have been
realized:
• Full documentation and validation of
the QMS procedures, including Quality,
Biosafety, Laboratory User, Training,
Media/Reagents Preparation Manuals
and Examination Procedures
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• In May 2017 the laboratory had a
baseline score of 31/265 (11.7%) on
the Stepwise Laboratory Quality
Improvement Process towards
Accreditation (SLIPTA) checklist and a
rating of No Star. As of December 2018,
the laboratory scored 173/265 (65.3%,
Figure 4) for a rating of Two Stars. This
represented a 53.6% increase in under
two years 2. The ODCH/PCMH microbiology
laboratory is currently used as a
referral facility for bacteriology culture
analyses and antimicrobial sensitivity
testing. In addition, the laboratory
supports outbreak responses for
epidemic prone diseases such as
cholera and meningitis.
Impact 4. Clinical research can now be carried
out at this facility. n
1. A MoHS Antimicrobial Resistance
Surveillance Program is currently
running in this facility. This will
ensure that resistance patterns of
common isolates are determined so
that Empirical Treatment Regimes
are based on available data. Also,
extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)
strains can now be identified based
on Cefotaxime resistance; this is
significant resistance and considered is
a high priority infection control alert.
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3. The facility currently supports the
practical training of MLS students.
Spring 2019 LAB MATTERS
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