Subgroup on Laboratory Capacity Strengthening SLCS

1
Subgroup on Laboratory Capacity Strengthening
(SLCS)

• of
• DOTS Expansion Working Group (DEWG)

2
ACTIVITIES 2004 / 2005

• Development of technical documents and guidelines
• Assist countries/regions in development and
  implementation of their workplans
• Assessment of TB laboratory services in TB high
  burden and priority countries
• Participation in the National TB Programme (NTP)
  reviews and the regional NTP meetings
• Organization of the annual Subgroup meeting to
  discuss technical and policy issues

3
PROGRESS REPORT

• Development of technical documents and guidelines
• Finalization of the Laboratory Global Strategy to
  improve performance of TB diagnostic services
• Uniform training curricula for AFB smear
  microscopy (workshop in the box) in collaboration
  with partners
• Concenptual framework for the laboratory
  component of GFATM proposals
• Checklist to evaluate culture and DST technique
• EQA system for culture and DST in collaboration
  with PAHO
• Performance indicators for TB laboratory
• Framework for revision of the TB laboratory
  guidelines
• Review/revision of TB Laboratory Management
  Training curriculum

4
PROGRESS REPORT

• Organization/participation in assessment missions
  and programmes reviews
• Indonesia (26 November- 6 December, 2004)
• Myanmar (December, 2004)
• Russian Federation (22-26 November, 2004 and
  21-28 April 2005)
• Egypt (30 November- 4 December, 2004)
• Belarus (30 January-6 February, 2005)
• United Republic of Tanzania (1-11 February, 2005)
• DR Congo (10-25 February, 2005)
• South Africa (2-12 October)
• Oman (8-12 October)
• Other assessment missions organised by partners

5
PROGRESS REPORT

• Organization of technical meetings and training
• Consortium meeting on optimization of AFB
  microscopy
• (1-2 September 2005)
• TB Laboratory Management Training in
  collaboration with EMRO
• (18-29 September)
• 3rd Laboratory Subgroup and SRLN meeting (2-3
  November 2004)
• 4th Laboratory Subgroup and SRLN meeting (23-24
  October 2005)

6
2005 - 2006

• WHAT WE ARE PLANNING TO DO

7
PLANNED ACTIVITIES - 1 4th Quarter 2005-2006

• Technical documents and guidelines
• Publication of Laboratory Global Strategy to
  improve performance of TB diagnostic services
• Development of standardized training materials
  for culture and DST
• Finalization of SOP guidelines for TB laboratory
• Finalization of the revision of TB Laboratory
  Guidelines
• Development of training materials for TB
  Laboratory Consultants

8
PLANNED ACTIVITIES - 2 4th Quarter 2005-2006

• Technical documents and guidelines
• Production and distribution of standardized
  training materials for AFB smear microscopy
  (English edition)
• Translation of the AFB microscopy training
  material into French
• Translation of the TB Laboratory Management
  Training material into French, Spanish, Russian,
  and local languages e.g. Bahasa

9
PLANNED ACTIVITIES - 3 4th Quarter 2005-2006

• Technical assistance
• Assist Regions in development and implementation
  of their strategies to strengthen TB laboratory
  network
• Establishment of the Laboratory Strengthening
  Task Force
• development of the regional work plan (EURO)
• Finalization of other regional work plans (EMR,
  SEAR and AFR)
• Organise laboratory assessment and follow-up
  missions to priority countries
• Assist countries in implementation of EQA system
  for culture

10
PLANNED ACTIVITIES - 4 4th Quarter 2005-2006

• Policy development and operational research
• Collaborate with Partners in designing and
  organization of multi-centre operational research
  as per the recommendations of the consortium
  meeting (FM and concentration methods)
• Policy review of the optimal number of smears for
  the diagnosis of TB

11
PLANNED ACTIVITIES - 5 4th Quarter 2005-2006

• Training
• Organise training session for TB laboratory
  consultants
• Theoretical and practical aspects
• Organize TB Laboratory Management Training for
  
• heads of NRL laboratories
• Technical assistance to regions and countries to
  carry out
• their training agenda

12
MAJOR CHALLENGES

• Human resources
• Limited availability of experts at international,
  regional and national and levels
• Limited human resources at Regional and Country
  Offices
• Financial resources
• Limited financial resources at the international
  level
• Insufficient allocation of financial resources at
  country levels
• Planning and implementation
• Suboptimal planning, implementation and
  monitoring of laboratory improvement plans
• Suboptimal coordination among partners to ensure
  effective progress
• Raise awareness of the crucial role of laboratory
  services