Impact of introducing integrated quality assessment for tuberculosis and malaria microscopy in Kano, Nigeria

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the integration of malaria microscopy quality assessment (QA) with that of other microscopically diagnosed diseases, but there is no evidence that it has been attempted. We assessed the feasibility of linking malaria microscopy into the...

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Main Authors: Faruk Sarkinfada, Yunusa Aliyu, Charles Chavasse, Imelda Bates
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2009-02-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/101
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author Faruk Sarkinfada
Yunusa Aliyu
Charles Chavasse
Imelda Bates
author_facet Faruk Sarkinfada
Yunusa Aliyu
Charles Chavasse
Imelda Bates
author_sort Faruk Sarkinfada
collection DOAJ
description Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the integration of malaria microscopy quality assessment (QA) with that of other microscopically diagnosed diseases, but there is no evidence that it has been attempted. We assessed the feasibility of linking malaria microscopy into the existing tuberculosis (TB) microscopy QA system in Kano, Nigeria. Methodology: Five TB microscopy centres were selected for implementing the integrated TB and malaria microscopy QA scheme in the state. A model system was designed for selecting and blinded rechecking of TB and malaria slides from these laboratories. Supervision and evaluation was conducted at 3-month intervals for 24 months. Results: TB microscopy QA was strengthened in four laboratories. Full integration of the QA for TB and malaria microscopy was achieved in two laboratories, and partial integration in two other laboratories. The programme resulted in an increase in the specificity of both TB and malaria microscopy results. At the final assessment, 100% specificity was achieved for TB microscopy results in four laboratories. There was an increased concordance rate and decreased false positivity and false negativity rates of TB microscopy results in all five laboratories. Conclusions: It is feasible to integrate the QA system and training for TB and malaria microscopy for assessing and improving quality of both services. However, the integrated system needs testing in different settings in order to be able to develop sound recommendations to guide the complex scaling-up process.
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publishDate 2009-02-01
publisher The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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spelling doaj-art-0e8db9aa58e44a0c9740cb8dc946a0b42025-08-20T02:27:01ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802009-02-0130110.3855/jidc.101Impact of introducing integrated quality assessment for tuberculosis and malaria microscopy in Kano, NigeriaFaruk Sarkinfada0Yunusa Aliyu1Charles Chavasse2Imelda Bates3Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Bayero University, KanoKano State Tuberculosis and Leprosy control Programme, Ministry of Health KanoDisease Control Strategy Group, Liverpool School of Tropical MedicineDisease Control Strategy Group, Liverpool School of Tropical MedicineBackground: The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the integration of malaria microscopy quality assessment (QA) with that of other microscopically diagnosed diseases, but there is no evidence that it has been attempted. We assessed the feasibility of linking malaria microscopy into the existing tuberculosis (TB) microscopy QA system in Kano, Nigeria. Methodology: Five TB microscopy centres were selected for implementing the integrated TB and malaria microscopy QA scheme in the state. A model system was designed for selecting and blinded rechecking of TB and malaria slides from these laboratories. Supervision and evaluation was conducted at 3-month intervals for 24 months. Results: TB microscopy QA was strengthened in four laboratories. Full integration of the QA for TB and malaria microscopy was achieved in two laboratories, and partial integration in two other laboratories. The programme resulted in an increase in the specificity of both TB and malaria microscopy results. At the final assessment, 100% specificity was achieved for TB microscopy results in four laboratories. There was an increased concordance rate and decreased false positivity and false negativity rates of TB microscopy results in all five laboratories. Conclusions: It is feasible to integrate the QA system and training for TB and malaria microscopy for assessing and improving quality of both services. However, the integrated system needs testing in different settings in order to be able to develop sound recommendations to guide the complex scaling-up process.https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/101tuberculosismalariamicroscopyqualityKano
spellingShingle Faruk Sarkinfada
Yunusa Aliyu
Charles Chavasse
Imelda Bates
Impact of introducing integrated quality assessment for tuberculosis and malaria microscopy in Kano, Nigeria
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
tuberculosis
malaria
microscopy
quality
Kano
title Impact of introducing integrated quality assessment for tuberculosis and malaria microscopy in Kano, Nigeria
title_full Impact of introducing integrated quality assessment for tuberculosis and malaria microscopy in Kano, Nigeria
title_fullStr Impact of introducing integrated quality assessment for tuberculosis and malaria microscopy in Kano, Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed Impact of introducing integrated quality assessment for tuberculosis and malaria microscopy in Kano, Nigeria
title_short Impact of introducing integrated quality assessment for tuberculosis and malaria microscopy in Kano, Nigeria
title_sort impact of introducing integrated quality assessment for tuberculosis and malaria microscopy in kano nigeria
topic tuberculosis
malaria
microscopy
quality
Kano
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/101
work_keys_str_mv AT faruksarkinfada impactofintroducingintegratedqualityassessmentfortuberculosisandmalariamicroscopyinkanonigeria
AT yunusaaliyu impactofintroducingintegratedqualityassessmentfortuberculosisandmalariamicroscopyinkanonigeria
AT charleschavasse impactofintroducingintegratedqualityassessmentfortuberculosisandmalariamicroscopyinkanonigeria
AT imeldabates impactofintroducingintegratedqualityassessmentfortuberculosisandmalariamicroscopyinkanonigeria