How best to structure a laboratory network with new technologies by Dr Cristina Gutierrez
3 June 2011
The rational for introducing new TB tests in a network
Disease burden, size of the country, level of decentralization
Eligible patient to be tested and diagnostic algorithm
- Smear positive and/ or negative
- Any case or only any drug resistant suspect or only MDR suspects
- Low and high HIV settings
- Low and high MDR settings
Specimen/patient referral
Linkage to treatment
Costs and donors support
Technical realities and implementation challenges