Reporting and Recording results of Smear Microscopy (On paper)

Each Designated Microscopic Center (DMC) needs to maintain a National TB Elimination Program TB (NTEP) Laboratory Register which collects information of all presumptive TB patients who undergo tests or confirmed patients who undergo follow-up tests.

• After doing the Acid-fast Bacilli (AFB) test, the laboratory technician needs to ensure that all the microscopy test results are entered against the name and the serial number of the presumptive/ confirmed TB patients.
• The result needs to be mentioned in terms of positive or negative test results along with the AFB grading.
• It is expected that the positive results are written in RED and negative in BLUE point pens.
• The AFB results can be mentioned for newly diagnosed TB patients for both spot as well as morning sample and must include the Nikshay ID of the patient as well as the test date and result.
• In case, the sample is repeated, the same is also mentioned.
• All the information also needs to be entered into NTEP Nikshay online application using a tablet or mobile phone.
• In a setting where Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) is co-located, another sample needs to be tested for Rifampicin (Rif)-resistance and the same result also needs to be noted into the TB laboratory register.
• The performance of each laboratory is also entered into the monthly DMC extract called Annexure M which is consolidated for all DMCs by the concerned Senior TB Laboratory Supervisor (STLS).
• HIV and diabetes tests are also offered to each confirmed TB case and the details of the same are also part of the TB laboratory register.
• Patients who have been tested also need to be provided with the test results in a hard copy apart from the provision of information to the treating clinician of the health facility.

Resources

• RNTCP Module for Laboratory Technician, CTD, MoHFW, 2005.

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