Acceptance and Rejection Criteria for TB Specimens at Laboratories

The criteria for acceptance and rejection of TB specimens at TB Diagnostic Laboratories are listed below:

Acceptance Criteria:

• Sample received in triple layer with no leakage
• Sample is without any blood and food particles
• Sample is received within 48 hours expected timeline after collection in a cool chain
• Adequate label and information about the specimen
• Identical name on the specimen and in the test request
• Sample is in adequate quantity

Rejection Criteria:

• Unlabeled or mislabeled specimens
• Specimen sent without the test request ID in Nikshay
• Mismatch in the name on the specimen and the test request in Nikshay
• If the container is full up to the lid with the specimen
• Sample is not collected in an appropriate container
• Specimen container is broken
• Leakage of specimen
• Sample received after two days of collection

Resources

• Training Module (1-4) for Program Managers and Medical Officer, NTEP, MoHFW, 2020.
• Guidelines for Programmatic Management of Drug Resistant TB in India, 2021.

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