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Monitoring the performance of mycobacteriology laboratories: a proposal for standardized indicators.

SETTING
Thailand Tuberculosis (TB) Active Surveillance Network: Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Tak and Ubon-Ratchathani, Thailand.


BACKGROUND
Mycobacteriology laboratories in resource-limited, high TB burden settings are expanding to perform conventional solid media culture and broth-based mycobacteriology culture. Indicators that measure how well a laboratory performs sputum microscopy have been developed and broadly implemented. Routine monitoring of sputum culture performance, however, is not as common.


DESIGN
We implemented indicators for monitoring the quality of laboratory services in five province-level mycobacteriology culture facilities in Thailand. These indicators were derived from literature review, consultation with subject matter experts and our program experience.


CONCLUSIONS
We believe that an international consensus document providing monitoring guidelines for mycobacteriology laboratories is urgently needed.