Improving quality in national reference laboratories: The role of SLMTA and mentorship.
Afr J Lab Med
; 3(2): 200, 2014.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29043183
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research houses two reference laboratories the virology and tuberculosis laboratories. Both were enrolled in the Strengthening Laboratory Management Toward Accreditation (SLMTA) programme.OBJECTIVE:
To describe the impact of SLMTA and discuss factors affecting the results, with an emphasis on mentorship.METHODS:
The SLMTA programme was implemented from April 2010 through November 2012. Participants attended three workshops and executed quality improvement projects; laboratory auditors evaluated performance using a standard checklist. The virology laboratory did not receive mentorship; however, the tuberculosis laboratory had an international mentor who visited the laboratory four times during the programme, spending two to four weeks embedded within the laboratory during each visit.RESULTS:
There was an overall improvement in the performance of both laboratories, with the virology laboratory increasing 13% (from 80% at baseline to 93% at exit audit) and the tuberculosis laboratory increasing 29% (from 66% to 95%). These scores were maintained nine months later at the surveillance audit.CONCLUSION:
The SLMTA programme resulted in improved and sustained quality management performance for both laboratories. Mentoring was a possible factor in the substantial improvement made by the tuberculosis laboratory and should be considered in order to augment the training received from the SLMTA workshops.
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Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Afr J Lab Med
Año:
2014
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Nigeria