Storing slides at a DMC for QA

It is important to store slides, after reading as these will be required for Quality assurance - internal rechecking by the supervisor, and for External Quality Assurance (EQA) as per National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) guidelines.

• Prior to storage slides need to be dried by gently placing the slide gently face down on the tissue paper or by wrapping it in the tissue paper and leaving it overnight to remove excess oil (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Using Tissue Paper to Drain Oil

• The slides are to be stored in the slide box in the same order as they are listed in the laboratory register (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Keeping the Slides in Same Order as Listed in the Laboratory Register

• One blank place must be left behind the first slide from a patient suspected with TB this allows the second slide of the same patient to be added after reading. This process will keep results consistent with the laboratory register (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Keeping Blank Spaces Between Slides for Consistency

• Always store slides in closed slide boxes away from sunlight (Figure 4).

Figure 4: Storing Slides in Closed Slide Boxes

Resources

• Manual for Sputum Smear Fluorescence Microscopy, RNTCP, MoHFW, 2007.
• Laboratory Diagnosis of Tuberculosis by Sputum Microscopy, GLI Initiative.

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