Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Years of mechanism: 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Details for Mechanism ID: 13554
Country/Region: Tanzania
Year: 2012
Main Partner: Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: NGO
Funding Agency: HHS/CDC
Total Funding: $11,852

In FY 2012, Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) will be implementing a set of activities that aims to strengthen the quality of laboratory services in Tanzania. The recently WHO endorsed Xpert-MTB/RIF (Cepheid) real time based PCR system is a fully automated, walk-away system that requires minimal training needs and biosafety requirements for its implementation. Therefore, the aim is to use the system at the district and or sub district levels in the tiered laboratory diagnostic network. FIND will continue to facilitate the roll out of the Xpert/RIF novel rapid diagnostic tools at five additional testing sites, introduce a simple test related EQA scheme at all testing sites, and increase human resource capacity by providing trainings on Xpert/Rif.

The EQA of TB smear microscopy is the fundament of mycobacteriology laboratory services to identify patients with more advance and infectious disease forms and to monitor the efficacy of treatment. FIND aims to improve timely management and monitoring of blinded rechecking and panel testing-based EQA of AFB microscopy by a new AFB smear microscopy management software system.

Implementation of adequate biosafety measures are crucial to roll-out of novel TB diagnostics. FIND will organize a biosafety meeting specifically focusing on TB laboratory practices with hands-on and theoretical sessions. FINDs project approach involves country leadership that helps pave the way forward with discussions reviewing past policies and strategic plans that identify needs, gaps, and creation of timelines for project implementation.

Funding for Care: TB/HIV (HVTB): $11,852

The recently WHO endorsed Xpert-MTB/RIF system is a fully automated assay has an excellent sensitivity to detect TB and MDR-TB not only on smear positive but also on smear negative specimens, which allows the rapid testing of patients with paucibacillary TB, such as individuals with HIV. In FY 2012, FIND will support the continued roll out of the newly developed Xpert/RIF rapid molecular test and facilitate the site preparation, training of technicians, procurement of necessary equipments, and reagents for an additional five testing sites. This will be in addition to the three sites already planned for set up in FY 2011. The target will be to implement five GX4 machines at five testing sites, with the training of 10 technicians.

FIND will facilitate the implementation of a EQA panel testing method for Xpert/RIF to document proficiency after initial training, set up, and sustainability of testing quality at the end of the project. Monitoring and evaluation of results on the panels will analyze Xpert/RIF testing outputs, results, and assess impact to identify successes and challenges. FINDs exit strategy will include training local experts how to implement, monitor, and evaluate these activities. The target will be for all seven testing sites to pass panel testing.

The EQA of TB smear microscopy is the fundament of mycobacteriology laboratory services. The most accurate method of TB smear microscopy EQA is the blinded rechecking of slides of the peripheral laboratories at a higher level (district or regional) supervisory center. Timely examination of slides, accurate calculation quality indicators as well as the timely feedback of results, corrective actions, and related follow-up of laboratories is challenging. A large amount of date handling is associated to all these steps, especially if a third reading is also necessary to resolve discrepancies. FIND is proposing the implementation of a newly developed software (www.slide2check.net) that is aimed to support TB slide rechecking programs. The software system is allowing easy data management, monitoring, and reporting of all slide rechecking associated EQA activities in a rapid and user-friendly way. Training of the staff working at rechecking supervisory level will be conducted on the system. Job aids and a user manual will also be provided. The target will be to have the system piloted and finalized for local needs at 10 microscopy centers.

FIND is organizing a three-day theoretical and practical workshop on TB laboratory biosafety. The TB specific curriculum that was piloted in India will provide lessons that will enable participants to learn to organize risk assessment, determine the biosafety level of their laboratories, and establish the related requirements. In addition, trainees will learn good laboratory practices to avoid aerosol generation when performing novel TB diagnostics, such as liquid cultures or DNA extraction for molecular testing, use and maintenance of safety equipment with samples containing tuberculosis, establish biosafety SOPs, and learn waste management of infectious materials with TB. At the end of the course, participants will develop the core components of a full laboratory biosafety manual that can be customized to their local needs at their testing sites. The target will be to train 15 laboratorians.

Cross Cutting Budget Categories and Known Amounts Total: $11,852
Human Resources for Health $11,852
Key Issues Identified in Mechanism
enumerations.Impact/End-of-Program Evaluation
Tuberculosis