Lab Matters Winter 2017 | Page 35

member spotlight

Lab technician Kelly Scranton stains a pollen and mold slide

Microbiologist An Nguyen reads a urethral Gram stain slide under light microscope Kelly Scranton, Hyder Aljanabi and An Nguyen in the PHDMC STAT Lab

retired. The father of three boys is again enrolled at Wright State University, this time working towards an MPH degree. When not spending time at PHDMC, school or home, Aljanabi uses his language skills to translate for Arabicspeaking refugees at area clinics.

Staff

In addition to Aljanabi, the PHDMC laboratory employs a full time microbiologist and a part time laboratory technician.

Revenue

Funding for the laboratory is provided through third-party insurance payers, self-pay clients based on a sliding scale, and support from the county ' s Human Services Levy.

Testing

The moderate complexity laboratory processes about 15,000 specimens per year. Tests include gram staining for gonorrhea; the rapid plasma Reagin serological test for syphilis; rapid HIV screening; and wet mounts for bacterial vaginosis, trichomonas and yeast infections. Specimens needing tests for herpes, chlamydia / GC or confirmatory testing for syphilis are sent to a commercial reference laboratory and those needing confirmatory HIV testing are referred to the Ohio Public Health Laboratory in Reynoldsburg. Although rarely used, the laboratory has capability to perform darkfield microscopy on specimens from patients presenting with the characteristic, active syphilis chancre. Since darkfield analysis is considered diagnostic for Treponema pallidum, patients can receive immediate treatment, if needed.

• The addition of in-house Hepatitis C testing, beginning in 2017.

• Advocacy to assure access to chlamydia / gonorrhea testing for all PHDMC patients. Although the Ohio Department of Health’ s infertility prevention program covers the cost of such testing on urethral and cervical swab specimens, it does not pay for testing on rectum or throat swab specimens, which come mainly from LGBTQ patients. The cost of these tests— which are referred to a commercial laboratory under contract to the Ohio Department of Health— is now covered by the health department ' s revenue.

Challenge

The main challenge, says Aljanabi, is the current cramped laboratory space.“ Otherwise, we are a happy crew.”

Goals

• To institute quality management systems and maintain CLIA compliance.

• To stay connected with the state and national laboratory networks.“ That’ s why we joined APHL,” said Aljanabi.“ If there are emerging outbreaks, we will get notified and can discuss issues and get questions answered. It has been important to me as laboratory coordinator to stay connected to my network of peers.”

• To add more services to the laboratory’ s test menu.“ I’ m open to anything. That’ s our role: to help the community.”

• To have a successful move next year.

In addition to its on-site analytical services, the laboratory oversees six CLIAwaived testing sites: three WIC clinics, two HIV outreach clinics and PHDMC’ s Addiction Services Clinic.

Success Stories

• Providing input into the design of the new laboratory. Laboratory staff had several meetings with architects and interior designers from the Ohio-based App Architects. Among the improvements in the new space— tentatively slated for occupancy in December 2017— are an extra exit, additional lighting, better plumbing for the autoclave and additional space that will enable an expanded service menu.

Laboratory coordinator Hyder Aljanabi prepares a RPR syphilis test