Reliable tuberculosis culture results depend on more than the inoculation step. The condition of the medium, the way it is transported, and the consistency of…
Guides
Turnaround time in tuberculosis microscopy is shaped by every handoff between receiving a specimen and releasing a result. Delays may arise from accessioning,…
Proficiency testing (PT) gives tuberculosis laboratories an external check on whether their testing processes produce reliable results. A laboratory receives…
Temperature-sensitive equipment supports many tuberculosis laboratory activities, from culture incubation to storage of reagents, media, controls, and…
An internal audit report turns observations from a tuberculosis laboratory review into a controlled improvement record. It should show what was examined, what…
Accurate acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear interpretation is a practical skill that depends on more than recognizing red rods against a stained background. Staff…
A tuberculosis laboratory waste disposal protocol translates biosafety requirements into consistent actions that staff can follow during routine testing,…
Reliable equipment is central to accurate tuberculosis testing. Microscopes, biosafety cabinets, incubators, centrifuges, autoclaves, refrigerators, GeneXpert…
A biological safety cabinet (BSC) is a primary containment device that protects laboratory staff, the surrounding environment, and, in some configurations, the…
Reliable tuberculosis testing begins before a specimen reaches the laboratory. A poorly collected, mislabeled, contaminated, or delayed sputum sample can…