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142 |
GUIDELINES FOR DESPATCH OF SPECIMENS FOR LABORATORY
INVESTIGATIONS |
N Naganathan: NTI Newsletter 1973, 10, 35-38. |
This paper brings out certain guidelines to be
followed at the time of despatch of specimens for laboratory investigations.
Despatch of pathological specimens to laboratories situated away
from the place of collection for investigations is quite a common
practice. Often those despatching the specimens are not aware of
the procedures. Specimens are packed like any other articles sent
by post.
There are two important points to be remembered
when pathological specimens are sent for investigations. One of
them is preservation of the material so that the specimens
reach the laboratory in a condition fit for necessary investigations.
The other is the proper packing of the specimens to prevent
leakage from or breakage of the containers during transit so that
they do not become hazardous to persons handling them. For microscopy,
it is better to send fixed smears wrapped in a paper and properly
labelled. For culture, specimens should always be sent in a sterile
container. It is preferable to send them in ice to prevent overgrowth
of contaminants and drying. If the transport time is 3-4 days, they
can be sent at room temperature. It is advisable to send bulky liquid
specimens and more than one specimen through a messenger instead
of by post or as an unaccompanied parcel. In case this is not possible,
it will be advisable to send them in more than one parcel depending
on the number to be sent instead of sending all specimens as a single
parcel.
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KEY WORDS: GUIDELINES, SPECIMEN, LABORATORY,
DESPATCH, INVESTIGATIONS. |
143 |
AN INTER LABORATORY COMPARISON |
N Naganathan: NTI Newsletter 1974, 11, 27-28. |
The National Tuberculosis Institute (NTI), Bangalore
was established in 1959 and its bacteriological laboratory started
functioning from 1961. For the first few years WHO Experts were
involved in the establishment and running of the laboratory but
since many years the laboratory is being run only by the national
staff.
The laboratory has been involved in research and
training since its inception. In order to compare the standard of
the various tests done in the NTI laboratory with that of a similar
laboratory having some standing in tuberculosis research, a series
of comparison studies were done between NTI and the laboratory of
the Tuberculosis Chemotherapy Centre, Madras. The results were similar
except for variations within normal limits. Besides, some cultures
isolated in NTI laboratory were sent to the tuberculosis laboratory
of the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), Atlanta (Georgia) U.S.A.
for purpose of an inter-laboratory comparison. Forty seven cultures
were sent to CDC, of which 38 were M.tuberculosis, 1 rapid grower,
1 H37 RV, 3 M.avium, 2 M.bovis, 1 B.C.G and 1 M.phlei. But for some
minor variations in a few biochemical tests, the species classification
compared well between the two laboratories. Taking all the results
into account and making some allowance for unavoidable variations,
it was observed that the standard of bacteriological investigations
were similar between all the three laboratories.
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KEY WORDS: LABORATORY, TUBERCLE BACILLI, SPECIES.
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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.
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KEY WORDS: COST, LABORATORY, TUBERCLE BACILLI,
ESTABLISHMENT. |
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