District Laboratory Practice in Tropical Countries Part 1

Contents

Chapter 1 Organization and staffing of district laboratory services

1.1 Importance of laboratory practice in district health care .  Structuring of a district laboratory network. 
1.3 Training and continuing education of district laboratory personnel 
1.4 Code of conduct for laboratory personnel and status of medical laboratory practice

Chapter 2 Total quality management of district laboratory services

2.1 Ensuring a reliable and quality laboratory service 
2.2 Selection of tests and interpretation of test results 
2.3 Financing district laboratory services and controlling costs
2.4 Quality assurance and sources of error in district laboratory practice .
2.5 SI Units  
2.6 Guidelines for preparing stains and reagents 
2.7 Communicating effectively.

Chapter 3 Health and safety in district laboratories

3.1 Implementing a laboratory health and safety programme
3.2 Safe laboratory premise and personal safety measures 
3.3 Microbial hazards .
3.4 Decontamination of infectious material and disposal of laboratory waste.
3.5 Chemical and reagent hazards 
3.6 Equipment and glassware hazards .
3.7 Fire safety 
3.8 Emergency First Aid

Chapter 4 Equipping district laboratories

4.1 Selection, procurement and care of equipment 
4.2 Power supplies in district laboratories 
4.3 Microscope
4.4 Equipment for purifying water .
4.5 Equipment for weighing .
4.6 Equipment for pipetting and dispensing. 
4.7 Centrifuges .
4.8 Laboratory autoclave .
4.9 Incubator, water bath, heat block .
4.10 Colorimeter. 
4.11 Mixers.
4.12 General laboratory-ware for district laboratories .

Chapter 5 Parasitological tests

5.1 Parasitology in district laboratories and quality assurance of tests. 
5.2 Features and classification of parasites of medical importance 
5.3 Direct examination of faeces and concentration techniques . 
5.4 Identification of faecal protozoan trophozoites, cysts and oocysts
5.5 Identification of helminth eggs and larvae found in faeces.
5.6 Examination of urine for Schistosoma haematobium eggs 
5.7 Examination of blood for malaria parasites.
5.8 Examination of blood, lymph fluid, and c.s.f for trypanosomes causing African trypanosomiasis. 
5.9 Examination of blood for Trypanosoma cruzi .
5.10 Examination of specimens for Leishmania parasites
5.11 Examination of blood for microfilariae in lymphatic filariasis and loiasis. 
5.12 Examination of skin for Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae 
5.13 Examination of sputum for Paragonimus eggs. 
5.14 Less frequently needed tests:
1 Investigation of amoebic liver abscess .
2 Investigation of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. 
3 Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis . 
4 Diagnosis of hydatid disease .
5 Examination of muscle tissue for Trichinella spiralis larvae
6 Detection of Dracunculus medinensis (Guinea worm) larvae

Chapter 6 Clinical chemistry tests

6.1 Clinical chemistry in district laboratories .
6.2 Quality assurance of clinical chemistry tests 
6.3 Measurement of serum or plasma creatinine.
6.4 Measurement of serum or plasma urea . 
6.5 Measurement of blood or plasma glucose.
6.6 Measurement of serum or plasma bilirubin .
6.7 Measurement of serum albumin. .
6.8 Measurement of serum or plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity 
6.9 Measurement of serum or plasma alpha amylase activity.
6.10 Measurement of sodium and potassium in serum or plasma. .
6.11 Urine tests. 
6.12 Cerebrospinal fluid (c.s.f) tests.
6.13 Faecal tests . 

Appendix I

Preparation of reagents 

Appendix II

Useful addresses . .

Appendix III

Useful charts and figures .
Supplement
Planning a training curriculum for district laboratory personnel .


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