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There are currently five categories of drug-resistant TB treated under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) at present: Isoniazid (INH)-Resistant TB, Rifampicin (R) Resistant-TB , Multi- Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB), Pre-Extensively Drug Resistant TB (pre-XDR-TB) and Extensively Drug Resistant TB (XDR-TB). 

DR-TB scenario in India

Calibration is an important step in restoring the optimal functionality of medical equipment. Periodic calibration of the Cartridge-based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT) is required to retain the accuracy of the tests conducted by the CBNAAT machines.

Calibration of CBNAAT

A micropipette is a common yet essential laboratory instrument used to accurately and precisely transfer volumes of liquid in the microlitre range. 

Micropipettes are available in single-channel and multi-channel variants. While the single-channel micropipettes are used in labs that perform research related to molecular biology, microbiology and immunology, the multichannel micropipettes are recommended for ELISA (diagnostic test), molecular screening, kinetic studies and DNA amplification.

Types of Micropipettes

Stock is critical in assuring that the network of Designated Microscopy Centres (DMC) has all of the necessary supplies, equipment, and commodities to conduct testing. It assures that TB control and patient management are not interrupted by stockouts.

Assessment of stocks at DMC is carried out by estimating the number of presumptive TB cases diagnosed and treated during the last quarter.

There is a standard checklist for the assessment of stock at DMC with the help of this checklist assessment is carried out.

Role of STLS in District Review meetings

Role of STLS in District Review meetings

The Senior Tuberculosis Laboratory Supervisor (STLS) interacts with the TB patient care ecosystem from the time a presumptive TB case is identified, examined, diagnosed, notified, and put on anti-tuberculosis treatment till the completion of treatment.

The State Programme Implementation Plan (PIPs) for health and family welfare services under National Health Mission (NHM) funding spell out the strategies to be deployed, budgetary requirements and aimed health outcomes.

PIPs are the most crucial documents in NHM through which the states/ Union Territories (UTs), identify and quantify the targets required for programme implementation for the proposed year.

A good screening algorithm should have the following characteristics:

Prevalence of TB infection - The number of persons living with TB infection in a given population during a given time is called the prevalence of TB infection. 

It may be expressed in absolute number for a given population or as a rate per a defined denominator, commonly percentage.