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  • Panel Testing

    Learning Objectives

    The learner will be able to 
    - Describe Panel Testing
    - Discuss purpose of panel testing and
    - Elucidate uses of panel testing

H5Content
Content

Panel testing is a method of External Quality Assurance (EQA) that is used to determine the adequacy of a laboratory technician to perform Acid-fast Bacillus (AFB) smear microscopy. This method evaluates individual performance in staining and reading and not the other laboratory activities.

  • Panel testing under National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) is used for Intermediate Reference Laboratories (IRLs) and District TB Centres (DTCs) during on-site evaluation, because these institutions do not have routine slides for blinded rechecking.
  • A panel consists of a batch of stained and/or unstained smears that are sent out by the higher-level reference laboratory to the peripheral laboratories for processing, reading, and reporting of results
  • Panel testing is not performed as a routine in DMCs, as they will have regular on-site evaluation and blinded rechecking.

 

Uses of Panel Testing

  • Supplement re-checking programmes
  • Provide information on the capabilities of the peripheral laboratories prior to
    implementing a re-checking program
  • Assess status level of performance or to quickly detect problems associated with very poor performance
  • Evaluate proficiency of laboratory technicians following training
  • Monitor performance of individuals when adequate resources are not available to implement a re-checking program.

 

Resources

 

Assessment

Question Answer 1 Answer 2 Answer 3 Answer 4 Correct answer Correct explanation Page id Part of Pre-test Part of Post-test
Panel testing is useful to evaluate the proficiency of laboratory technicians following training. True False     1 Panel Testing is useful to evaluate the proficiency of laboratory technicians following training.   Yes Yes

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