Mycobacterial Diseases
Open Access

Abstract

Requirement of Quality Assessment for Modern Tuberculosis Laboratory Services

Hulya Simsek

Tuberculosis (TB) which is caused by M. tuberculosis complex is still the most important public health problem worldwide. Especially taking into account the recent increase in multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) cases and the emergence of extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB), this disease has to be diagnosed as soon as possible, and started to treatment to prevent TB spread in society. Thus, laboratory diagnosis of TB including drug susceptibility testing for all TB patients should be rapid, accurate and reliable. A dependable laboratory service is an essential component of TB treatment.

The proper standards of TB laboratories are far from being universally applied. All laboratories providing TB diagnostic services must be included in QAS by implicating the standard, internationally recommended, TB management practices, and must provide accurate and reliable service. All TB laboratories serving within the framework of TB Control Program (TCP) not excepting National TB reference laboratory must be taken part in Quality Assessment System (QAS). Quality Assessment (QA) is designed to continuously improve the reliability and efficiency of laboratory services, and composes of internal quality control (IQC), external quality assessment (EQA), and quality improvement. Quality system includes in all of the laboratory’s policies, processes, procedures, and resources required achieving quality testing. In conclusion, a good QA program will enhance credibility of laboratory for client.