Biosafety Level at the Microbiology Laboratory of PT SCI

Introduction: Protection of personnel in microbiological testing laboratories should be conducted. One of the efforts that can be used for preventive action is the determination of the biosafety level. This study was conducted with the aim of knowing how important the biosafety level is seen from the readiness level of laboratory personnel regarding knowledge, training, and competency assessment of laboratory personnel. Moreover, this study was also based on the application of biological risk assessment and the planned biosafety implementation program. Method: The sampling method used was secondary data with document review and data recording from the implementation of activities in the microbiology laboratory. Meanwhile, the primary data collection was done through in-depth interviews with respondents using questionnaires and direct interviews. Result: The results of data collection and data processing showed that 74% of laboratory personnel had the appropriate competence in carrying out the assessment by determining the biosafety level. This was supported by the biosafety program which might be planned and implemented with laboratory readiness. This had a percentage of 73% in terms of biological risk assessment and laboratory facilities. Conclusion: Determination of biosafety level is important for personnel who is working in dangerous facilities which is exposed to microbiological agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microbiological products. This is because, determining the biosafety level not only protects laboratory personnel, but also the environment from biological hazards.

Lithium heparin interference in the Abbott enzymatic creatinine assay: the significance of under-filled tubes

Background Spuriously high results using the Abbott Architect enzymatic creatinine assay were noted to be particularly associated with very small sample volumes. This led us to query the effect of under-filling lithium heparin tubes on the measured enzymatic creatinine result. Methods Blood was provided by 5 laboratory personnel and then decanted into 5 x1.2 mL Sarstedt S-Monovette tubes, giving final blood volumes of 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1200 μL. Plasma was analysed using Abbott Architect Jaffe, enzymatic creatinine, Beckman Coulter (AU500) enzymatic creatinine and Roche (Cobas c702) enzymatic creatinine assays. Saline was also added to Sarstedt 1.2 mL and Teklab 2 mL tubes and analysed using the Abbott Jaffe and enzymatic creatinine methods. Results Increasing degrees of under-fill were associated with greater over-estimation of creatinine using the Abbott enzymatic assay, but no difference was noted using Jaffe methodology on the same platform or enzymatic assays provided by Roche or Beckman. On average, creatinine was 40.6% (+27.7 μmol/L) higher when only 200 μL of blood was present in the tube. Small volumes of saline added to lithium heparin tubes measured significant creatinine concentrations using the Abbott enzymatic method. Conclusions Lithium heparin directly interferes in the Abbott Architect enzymatic creatinine assay. Under-filling lithium heparin tubes can lead to clinically significant over-estimation of creatinine results by this assay. Users of this assay should be aware of the potential for spurious results in small sample volumes collected into lithium heparin tubes and implement robust procedures for identifying and reporting results on these samples.

COMPETENCIES OF MEDICAL LABORATORY PERSONNEL

Competence is defined as the quality or state of having sufficientknowledge, judgment, skill, or strength for a particular duty or in a particularrespect.Thus, for medical technologists to be considered “competent” they haveto possess sufficient medical knowledge, practical judgment, skill in the laboratory,or demonstrable attributes necessary to the performance of being a medicallaboratory scientist.This study seeks to answer the problem of an observed competency gap in some areas in health care knowledge, literacy, and skills among medical laboratory personnel. This study used a self-rated survey questionnaireas the descriptive survey method of researchtoassessed the level of competencies in the area of clinical work and fieldexpertise of selected medical laboratory personnel in Metro Manila in terms ofResearch, Quality Management Systems, General Laboratory Practices,Communication, Management and Leadership, Professional Ethics, WorkForceTraining, Emergency Management and Response, and Laboratory Safety. Based on the result of the self-rated survey,the respondents are “moderately competent” inthe following areas:Research, Communication, WorkForce Training skills, and Laboratory Safety. In response, aproposed health matrix program was created inthese competencyareasthat showeda need for continuing education and training. Although the respondents scored “highly competent” in Quality Management System, General Laboratory Practice, Management and Leadership, and Professional Ethics, the researcher still suggests further training in these areas to become more proficient and expert.

Analisis Standarisasi Sarana, Prasarana dan Tenaga Laboratorium IPA MTs Negeri 8 Jember

Online learning at MTs Negeri 8 Jember makes science practicum rarely done in the laboratory so that the laboratory is neglected which causes some tools to be damaged and lost. In addition, the lack of facilities and infrastructure, and laboratory personnel at MTs Negeri 8 Jember is also one of the problems that exist in MTs Negeri 8 Jember. The purpose of this study is to assess the standardization of facilities and infrastructure as well as the science laboratory staff at MTs Negeri 8 Jember. The method used in this study is a qualitative method with data collection techniques in the form of interviews. The results show that 75% of the facilities and infrastructures in the MTs Negeri 8 Jember laboratory were available due to missing and damaged practicum tools. Meanwhile, the laboratory staff at MTs Negeri 8 Jember only has ahead of the laboratory, while the laboratory staff and technicians are replaced by the head of the laboratory and the science teacher. The solution to overcome these obstacles, the principal with the school committee, and the laboratory are working together to propose laboratory needs in the form of equipment and materials as well as laboratory personnel. Abstrak: Pembelajaran daring di MTs Negeri 8 Jember membuat praktikum IPA jarang dilakukan di laboratorium, sehingga laboratorium terbengkalai yang menyebabkan sebagian alat rusak dan hilang. Selain itu kurangnya sarana dan prasarana dan tenaga laboratorium di MTs Negeri 8 Jember juga menjadi salah satu permasalahan yang ada di MTs Negeri 8 Jember. Tujuan penelitian ini yaitu untuk mengkaji standarisasi sarana dan prasarana serta tenaga Laboratorium IPA di MTs Negeri 8 Jember. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini yaitu metode kualitatif dengan teknik pengumpulan data berupa wawancara. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa sarana dan prasarana yang ada di laboratorium MTs Negeri 8 Jember tersedia sekitar 75 % disebabkan karena beberapa alat praktikum hilang dan rusak. Sedangkan untuk tenaga laboratorium di MTs Negeri 8 Jember hanya memiliki kepala laboratorium sedangkan tugas laboran serta teknisi di gantikan oleh kepala laboratorium dan guru IPA. Solusi untuk mengatasi kendala tersebut kepala sekolah bersama komite sekolah dan pihak laboratorium berkerja sama untuk mengajukan kebutuhan laboratorium baik berupa alat dan bahan serta tenaga laboratorium.

Assessment of the accuracy of malaria microscopy in private health facilities in Entebbe Municipality, Uganda: a cross-sectional study

Background Although microscopy remains the gold standard for malaria diagnosis, little is known about its accuracy in the private health facilities in Uganda. This study evaluated the accuracy of malaria microscopy, and factors associated with inaccurate smear results at private health facilities in Entebbe Municipality, Uganda. Methods Between April and May 2018, all patients referred for a malaria smear in 16 private health facilities in Entebbe municipality were screened, and 321 patients were enrolled. A questionnaire was administered to collect demographic and clinical information, facility-based smear results were recorded from the participant’s consultation notes, and a research slide was obtained for expert microscopy during exit interview. A health facility assessment was conducted, and information on experience in performing malaria microscopy was collected from all facility personnel reading smears and the data was linked to the participant’s clinic visit. Results The test positivity rate of malaria parasitaemia was 15.0% by expert microscopy. The sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value of the facility-based microscopy were high (95.8%, 90.1 and 99.2%, respectively). However; the positive predictive value (PPV) was low with 27/73 (63%) patients diagnosed with malaria not having the disease. Majority of the inaccurate results were from 2 of the 23 laboratory personnel reading the smears. The factors associated with inaccurate smear readings included being read by a technician; (1) who had less than 5 years’ experience in reading malaria smears (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 9.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] (1.06–89.5), p-value = 0.04), and (2) who was examining less than 5 smears a day (aOR = 38.8, 95% CI 9.65–156, p-value < 0.001). Conclusions The accuracy of malaria microscopy in this setting was high, although one third of the patients diagnosed with malaria did not have the disease. Majority of the errors in smear readings were made by two laboratory personnel, with the main factor associated with inaccurate smear results being low experience in malaria microscopy. In-service training may be sufficient to eliminate inaccurate smear results in this setting, and these private facilities would be ideal model facilities to improve the quality of malaria microscopy in Uganda especially in the public sector where accuracy is still poor.

Distinctive COVID-19 manifestations and re-exposure to SARS CoV 2 in clinical laboratory personnel under regular monitoring by RT-PCR and serology

Clinical laboratory personnel (CLP) present a unique opportunity to investigate distinct forms of COVID-19 as they are under constant testing for SARS CoV 2 infection. SARS CoV 2 RNA and antibodies were routinely investigated over a 5-month period in 26 professionals from a clinical laboratory in RJ, Brazil. Of them, three (11.5%) CLP presented the following peculiar COVID-19 manifestations: 2/26 (7.7%) had SARS CoV 2 antibodies without RNA detection during the follow-up, with a possible re-exposure in one case, and 1/26 (3.8%) a confirmed reinfection with RNA detection, and possibly a third re-exposure. Based on a long follow-up of SARS CoV 2 infection in CLP, this study showed that cases of COVID-19 without RNA detection are not common, but it does indicate the risk of re-exposure after the fall of antibody levels. Although scarcely reported, the investigation of less frequent forms of COVID-19 is relevant, given the lack of knowledge of its impact on the pandemic.

Assessment of the Accuracy of Malaria Microscopy in Private Health Facilities in Entebbe Municipality, Uganda; A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Although microscopy remains the gold standard for malaria diagnosis, little is known about its accuracy in the private health facilities in Uganda. We evaluated the accuracy of malaria microscopy, and factors associated with inaccurate smear results at private health facilities in Entebbe Municipality, Uganda.Methods: Between April and May 2018, all patients referred for a malaria smear in 16 private health facilities in Entebbe municipality were screened, and 321 patients were enrolled. A questionnaire was administered to collect demographic and clinical information, facility-based smear results were recorded from the participant’s consultation notes, and a research slide was obtained for expert microscopy. A health facility assessment was conducted, and information on experience in performing malaria microscopy was collected from all facility personnel reading smears and the data was linked to the participant’s clinic visit. Results: The prevalence of malaria parasitemia was 15.0% by expert microscopy. The sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value of the facility-based microscopy were high (95.8%, 90.1% and 99.2% respectively). However; the positive predictive value (PPV) was low with 27/73 (63%) patients diagnosed with malaria not having the disease. Majority of the inaccurate results were from 2 of the 23 laboratory personnel reading the smears. The factors associated with inaccurate smear readings included being read by a technician; 1) who had less than 5 years’ experience in reading malaria smears (adjusted Odds Ratio [OR] = 9.74, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] (1.06 – 89.5), p-value=0.04), and 2) who was examining less than 5 smears a day (OR = 38.8, 95% CI 9.65- 156, p-value <0.001).Conclusion: The accuracy of malaria microscopy in this setting was high, although one third of the patients diagnosed with malaria did not have the disease. Majority of the errors in smear readings were made by two laboratory personnel, with the main factor associated with inaccurate smear results being low experience in malaria microscopy. In-service training may be sufficient to eliminate inaccurate smear results in this setting, and these private facilities would be ideal model facilities to improve the quality of malaria microscopy in Uganda especially in the public sector.