Quality assessment of sputum for Acid Fast Bacilli(AFB) test in microbiology laboratories before and after implementation of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP): a comparative study.

Aims: To evaluate the present status of microbiology laboratory by comparing the test results of investigator with that of laboratory staff for sputum for Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) withZiehl-NeelsenStaining (Z-N Staining) at primary and secondary level andto assess the present status of a microbiology laboratory for sputum for Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) withZiehl-NeelsenStaining (Z-N Staining) at tertiary level. Material and Methods: Type of study : Cross sectional, descriptive type of study. Place of study: Department of Microbiology of Dhaka Medical College,Narsingdi Sadar Hospital,Narsingdi,PolashUpzilla Health Complex ,Polash, Narsingdi andDOTS centers. Duration of study: From July, 2007 to June,2008 Method of sampling: Non probability, purposive and convenient sampling Sample Size: Sputum for AFB: 300 sputum samples were collected for detection of AFB by direct Z-N staining, Z-N staining after bleach centrifugation and Auramine phenol staining before implementing SOP. After following SOP 150 sputum samples were collected and tested in direct Z-N method. Results: In the present study, before SOP out of 100 sputum smear at each level, discrepancy was found in 3% cases at primary level, 2% cases at secondary level and 1% case at tertiary level.After following SOP out of 50 sputum smear at each level, discrepancy was reduced to 2% cases at primary level and no discrepancy was found at secondary and tertiary level. Conclusion: Each laboratory must have SOP for laboratory testing to set the minimum acceptable standard for every test in order to improve and maintain the quality of laboratory services.

analytical study of 2902 cases of paralytic poliomyelitis over twelve years in Assiut governorate

All patients with acute anterior poliomyelitis presenting to the Assiut University Hospital and Assiut Rehabilitation Center over 12 years, from 1978 to 1989, were examined clinically according to the usual poliomyelitis sheet. This study comprises 2902 patients of whom 60.7% were males and 39.3% were females. Concerning the age of affection by the disease we found that 82.6% of the cases between the age of 6 and 24 months and only 1.4% of the cases receiving more than 3 doses of vaccination. The lower limbs is the most common part to be affected [98.5%] and the most common affected muscles are the knee extensors [91.8%] the hip adductors [82.9%] and the ankle dorsiflexors [80.6%]