Proficiency to read sputum AFB smears by senior tuberculosis laboratory supervisors under training at a reference laboratory in India.
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Date
2005-01
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Abstract
Background: A national reference laboratory imparting training on sputum AFB smear microscopy to fresh Senior
Tuberculosis Laboratory Supervisors (STLS).
Aim: To assess the proficiency of STLSs under training to read sputum AFB smears.
Methods: Each of 342 trainees read the same set of 15 to 20 Ziehl Neelsen stained smears in a blinded fashion on day–
1 and on day-15 of the training programme. The smear results were matched with the original results.
Observations: The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of smear reading
were 75%, 88%, 93%, 63% and 94%, 99%, 99%, 89% respectively on day-1 and day –15.
Conclusion: The sensitivity to read sputum AFB smears by fresh STLSs with little or no experience increased from
75% to 94% during the carefully planned training programme; the specificity increased from 88% to 99%. The study
highlights the importance of training in improving the microscopy results.
Description
Keywords
Pulmonary Tuberculosis, STLS, AFB sputum smears
Citation
Selvakumar N, Kumar Vanaja, Gopi P G, Sivagamasundari S, Prabhakaran E, Vasanthan Samuel, Narayanan P R. Proficiency to read sputum AFB smears by senior tuberculosis laboratory supervisors under training at a reference laboratory in India. Indian Journal of Tuberculosis. 2005 Jan; 52(1): 11-14.