These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Quality control of sputum smear examination in Cebu Province.
    Author: Fujiki A, Giango C, Endo S.
    Journal: Int J Tuberc Lung Dis; 2002 Jan; 6(1):39-46. PubMed ID: 11931400.
    Abstract:
    SETTING: Rural Health Units (RHUs) in Cebu Province, Philippines. OBJECTIVE: To assess and improve the on-going quality control of tuberculosis activities in Cebu Province. METHODS: During the period of the study, from January 1996 to December 1997, positive slides (100% in 1996 and 20% or 100% in 1997) and 20% of negative slides selected from all of the slides examined at the RHUs were assessed on the quality of smear preparation. The readings were blindly cross-checked by the provincial assessors. RESULTS: In 1997, 1) 90% of RHUs participated in the quality control activity; 2) the proportion of good quality smears increased markedly; and 3) the false positive and false negative rates did not change during the period, but most of the false positives were observed among the scanty positives of the field reading, and no false negatives were noted among the heavily positive slides. CONCLUSION: Although the false positive and negative rates did not decrease during the period, the quality control procedure resulted in marked improvements in smear preparation, a high participation of RHUs in the quality control programme and the elimination of large discrepancies between readers on positive slides in 1997. It is considered to have significantly improved the NTP's smear microscopy service in Cebu Province.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]