Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Tuberculosis lab gets TRC accreditation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Intermediate Reference Laboratory (IRL), the first standardised laboratory in the State for testing and monitoring drug-resistant tuberculosis, has received accreditation from the Tuberculosis Research Centre (TRC), Chennai, thus giving the final go-ahead for the government to launch Dots Plus strategy across the State.

In June, the government had announced the decision to offer treatment for multi-drug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis under the Dots Plus strategy to all patients across the State. IRL, with sophisticated facilities to carry out mycobacterium culture and sensitivity tests had been set up last year itself, as the first step towards the launch of Dots Plus.

The culture and sensitivity test from a standardised accredited laboratory is a necessity because accurate diagnosis is of utmost importance before offering treatment to drug-resistant TB cases. Currently, there are few such accredited TB culture and sensitivity labs even in the private sector

Officials from the Central TB division and TRC, Chennai, who visited IRL this week, expressed their satisfaction over the lab facilities. IRL was given accreditation after its proficiency in culture and sensitivity testing was proved to be over 96 per cent.

“Now that IRL has received accreditation, we no longer need to depend on TRC for sputum culture and for testing drug sensitivity of patients suspected to be having MDR TB. The time delay in sending samples and getting test results will be much reduced now and the patients can be put on second-line drugs much earlier,” a senior Health Department official said.

Kerala is only the second State after Gujarat to get IRL accreditation and the first one to launch Dots Plus across the State. The lab, set up with an assistance of Rs. 50 lakh from the Central Tuberculosis Division, is the first in the government sector with external quality assurance mechanism.

“In order to get accreditation, we had to send 20 sputum samples with our test results to TRC, which were tested in their laboratory. TRC then sent another 20 samples from their lab to us, which we had to test in our lab. The test results were compared in both instances and found to be accurate,” S. Praveen, a microbiologist at IRL said.

The lab will test sputum samples from across the State, of TB cases which do not clinically respond to treatment. Depending on the drug sensitivity in each case, it will be referred to the experts’ panel which will decide on the individual DOTS Plus strategy or second-line treatment to be administered to the patient.The IRL is now going in for major upgradation and capacity addition, for which the State government has already sanctioned Rs. 35 lakh.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Plea on Vizhinjam project
Seminar on cyber security
Debt panel told to study crop loss
Tuberculosis lab gets TRC accreditation
GKSF first prize for infant
No reduction in bus fare
Nothing to hide in Kiliroor case, says Kodiyeri
Opposition boycotts sitting
Non-Resident Keralites’ Welfare Bill passed
Chennithala defends Sonia stance
March taken out to PSC office
Alumni chapter
Prince Jewellery to open shop in city
Initiative to rope in NoRKs Tourism Trail
Schools youth fete schedule
Pulse Polio drive on Sunday
Film festival to end today
Cinema should be a medium to reflect reality: Israeli director
Rash driving major cause for accidents
Camp for schoolchildren
NSS camp to focus on organic farming
New chairman
In Thiruvananthapuram Today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu