TITLE: Quality assurance for HIV Opportunistic Infection Diagnosis and Clinical Microbiology Laboratory

Services in Tanzania

NEED and COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE: Opportunistic infections (OI) are common in HIV populations

and are a major threat to People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) both prior to diagnosis as well as during

care and treatment programs. Global efforts toward detection of tuberculosis are currently in place.

However, basic microbiology laboratory services for blood stream and other infections which have high

morbidity in the HIV infected patients are limited and lack quality assurance schemes. American Society of

Microbiology (ASM), with a membership of over 40,000 microbiologists, is a lead organization for technical

expertise in clinical microbiology diagnostics. ASM continues to offer support through its volunteers for the

diagnosis of opportunistic infections in more than five countries.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: N/A

ACTIVITIES: ASM will work with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to strengthen clinical

microbiology services at the National HIV Quality Assurance Laboratory and Training Center (NHQALTC),

zonal, and regional laboratories. Activities will include building the capacity for identification of bacterial

isolates at the NHQALTC; establishing international and national quality assurance schemes for clinical

microbiology (bacteriology, parasitology, mycology) services; and providing technical expertise for

molecular capabilities and malaria diagnostics. ASM technical experts will provide on-site consultation,

training, and supervision of these activities. Activities are targeted at laboratory technologists/technicians of

local Tanzanian laboratories who render HIV testing and testing for opportunistic infections. Two

consultants and a Program Manager will conduct an initial site visit to assess the progress of clinical

microbiology diagnostics in Tanzania. Activities will include visits to the NHQALTC zonal and regional

laboratories for an initial assessment. Following this assessment and with recommendations made, two

consultants will provide onsite training and supervision to lab supervisor/technologists to build the capacity

for identification of bacterial isolates at the NHQALTC, build the capacity for OI diagnostics at zonal and

regional laboratories;

ASM will work with MOHSW and the NHQALTC to establish national and international QA schemes

microbiology and opportunistic infections.

ASM will provide technical expertise for possible areas of expansion which could include molecular

capabilities and malaria diagnostics.

LINKAGES: Technical experts will continue to provide support to MOHSW laboratory staff for strengthening

microbiology services and treatment of opportunistic infections working in collaboration with interdisciplinary

health care teams and, USG laboratory partners Clinical and laboratory institute (CLSI) American society for

clinical pathology( ASCP) , American public health laboratories (APHL) who are providing technical

assistance to the schools of laboratory training in curriculum review, the zonal labs with standard and

document preparation and implementation of a laboratory information system. ASM will liaise with other

local organizations who provide reference services to the MOHSW such as the Muhimbili University for

Health and Allied Sciences.

CHECK BOXES: Emphasis area is human capacity development with a major emphasis on in-service

training.

M&E: ASM's will work with other partners to monitor the effectiveness of the trainings conducted, QA

activities implemented and will work closely with the MOHSW through on-site supportive supervision.

SUSTAINAIBLITY: Technical experts will provide support to local laboratory staff by building the capacity of

the NHQALTC for diagnosis of opportunistic infections. The proficiency level of the laboratory staff will be

maintained as a result if the implementation of the quality assurance scheme.