Authors: Kumar, V.¹; Raghavan, R.¹; Nagamiah, S.¹; Chauhan, L.S.²

Source: The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 13, Number 9, September 2009 , pp. 1183-1185(3)

Publisher: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

Abstract:

The quality of sputum smear microscopy in nine Intermediate Reference Laboratories (IRLs) was assessed based on onsite evaluation conducted by the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) in India, which supervises the IRLs for external quality assessment. The IRLs were evaluated, problems were identified, causes were explored and remedial actions were suggested. The NRL reports and feedback from the states were evaluated. Of the corrective actions recommended during the initial NRL evaluation visits, 65% were implemented within a month. Subsequent visits to seven IRLs showed 80% improvement. The NRL suggestions resulted in immediate corrective actions and had a sustained impact.

Keywords: onsite evaluation; panel testing; random blinded rechecking; EQA

Document Type: Short communication

Affiliations: 1: Tuberculosis Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Chetput, Chennai, India 2: Central TB Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, India

Publication date: 2009-09-01

More about this publication?

• The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease publishes articles on all aspects of lung health, including public health-related issues such as training programmes, cost-benefit analysis, legislation, epidemiology, intervention studies and health systems research. The IJTLD is dedicated to the continuing education of physicians and health personnel and the dissemination of information on tuberculosis and lung health world-wide.

  Certain IJTLD articles are selected for translation into French, Spanish, Chinese or Russian. They are available on the Union website

• Editorial Board
• Information for Authors
• Subscribe to this Title
• ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Internal Medicine
• By this author: Kumar, V. ;  Raghavan, R. ;  Nagamiah, S. ;  Chauhan, L.S.

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers