A comparative assessment of public and private dots laboratories in the Lagos state TB control programme

Abstract

Background: The purpose of the laboratory services within the framework of the NTP is to provide bacteriologic evidence for the diagnosis, follow-up of TB patients and to document cure at the end of treatment. However to be fully functional, laboratory commodities should be available as needed. This study compared the laboratory hygiene practices and availability of laboratory equipment and other consumables for making diagnosis of TB in public and private DOTS laboratories in Lagos State. Methods: A descriptive comparative cross sectional study comparing availability of commodities in public and private laboratories involved in TB services in Lagos State. Results: Seventeen DOTS laboratories and 34 laboratory scientist/technician were recruited for this study. About three quarter and two thirds of the public and private DOTS laboratories respectively had reagents for smear microscopy. A significantly higher proportion of the public DOTS laboratories had separate area for TB work and separate table for smear preparation (p <0.05). A higher proportion (71.4%) of the laboratory scientist/ technicians at the public compared with 38.5% of those at the private DOTS laboratories had good knowledge of the laboratory diagnosis of TB.

Are Tuberculosis Patients Managed According to the National Guidelines in Lagos State Nigeria?

“…Less than half of the patients managed at the public and private DOTS facilities had three follow up sputum smear microscopy in this study. This may be due to shortages of laboratory equipment and supplies in some of the DOTS laboratories in Lagos [20] which has also been reported in other studies from Ghana, India and Ethiopia [19] [21] [22] and the incessant strike action by health care workers in Lagos Nigeria also contributed to failure of patients to do follow up sputum microscopy.…”