BACTERIOLOGY <<Back
 
 
145
COST OF ESTABLISHING AND OPERATING A TUBERCULOSIS BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY
N Naganathan, K Padmanabha Rao & R Rajalakshmi: Indian J TB 1974, 21, 181-90.

This paper deals with the cost of establishing and running a bacteriological laboratory in State Tuberculosis Centres under the National Tuberculosis Programme, and the cost of various examinations to be undertaken in such a laboratory. A knowledge of the cost will enable proper planning and judicious utilization of the resources. Further, when services are rendered to private individuals or institutions, the charges for different examinations can be levied on a rational basis. The place of smear and culture examinations under the programme, the implications of establishing a culture laboratory, the limitations of cost worked out, have been discussed. A plan of the laboratory building is also provided.

The cost has been worked out presuming that about 12,000 specimens per year are likely to be received, of which 25% might turn out to be positives. Non recurring cost was estimated to be Rs.1,07,724 and annual recurring cost would be Rs.49,709. Factors that contribute to the cost structure are overheads, cost of material and labour. In addition, certain essential facilities like cold room, incubator room, gas supply, washing and sterilisation etc., add to the cost. (i) staff-bacteriologist-1, lab technicians-4, lab attendants-3 and registration clerk-1; their salaries, (ii) building-rent (iii) electricity (iv) furniture (v) equipment and supplies (vi) water charges had all been taken into consideration. The cost of one smear examination was estimated to be Rs.0.54 and that of culture and sensitivity test Rs.9.43.

KEY WORDS: COST, LABORATORY, TUBERCLE BACILLI, ESTABLISHMENT.

146
CASE-FINDING BY SPUTUM MICROSCOPY
N Naganathan, DR Nagpaul & SS Nair: Proceed 29th Natl TB & Chest Dis Workers Conf & 9th Eastern Region Conf of IUAT, New Delhi, 1974, 351-58.

The findings of two studies, (i) one on comparison of Ziehl-Neelsen method of staining of acid fast bacilli with and without alcohol decolourisation and use of Gabbet's Methylene blue (in place of decolourisation and counter staining) and (ii) comparison of two different types of Basic Fuchsin dye used in the preparation of Carbol Fuchsin, have been presented. The first study has shown that omission of alcohol decolourisation or the use of Gabbet's Methylene Blue has not influenced the detection of positives, though the latter has more often produced a non- satisfactory background. The second study has brought out the fact that two types of Basic Fuchsin are similar in every respect. However, the findings does not rule out the possibility of a bad dye giving rise to poor results. Need for conducting studies for simplifying the staining procedure has been stressed.

KEY WORDS: COST, SPUTUM MICROSCOPY, STAINING METHODS, ZIEHL1-NEELSEN, CASE-FINDING.
 
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