Developing standards for malaria microscopy: external competency assessment for malaria microscopists in the Asia-Pacific
Abstract Background Malaria diagnosis has received renewed interest in recent years, associated with the increasing accessibility of accurate diagnosis through the introduction of rapid diagnostic tests and new World Health Organization guidelines recommending parasite-based diagnosis prior to anti-...
Published in: | Malaria Journal |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
BMC
2012
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-11-352 https://doaj.org/article/5a228cd26af04716a540e8a2068f14c6 |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:5a228cd26af04716a540e8a2068f14c6 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:5a228cd26af04716a540e8a2068f14c6 2023-05-15T15:14:17+02:00 Developing standards for malaria microscopy: external competency assessment for malaria microscopists in the Asia-Pacific Ashraf Sania Kao Angie Hugo Cecilia Christophel Eva M Fatunmbi Bayo Luchavez Jennifer Lilley Ken Bell David 2012-10-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-11-352 https://doaj.org/article/5a228cd26af04716a540e8a2068f14c6 EN eng BMC http://www.malariajournal.com/content/11/1/352 https://doaj.org/toc/1475-2875 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-11-352 1475-2875 https://doaj.org/article/5a228cd26af04716a540e8a2068f14c6 Malaria Journal, Vol 11, Iss 1, p 352 (2012) Malaria microscopy Diagnostics Quality assurance programmes Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 article 2012 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-11-352 2022-12-30T22:09:53Z Abstract Background Malaria diagnosis has received renewed interest in recent years, associated with the increasing accessibility of accurate diagnosis through the introduction of rapid diagnostic tests and new World Health Organization guidelines recommending parasite-based diagnosis prior to anti-malarial therapy. However, light microscopy, established over 100 years ago and frequently considered the reference standard for clinical diagnosis, has been neglected in control programmes and in the malaria literature and evidence suggests field standards are commonly poor. Microscopy remains the most accessible method for parasite quantitation, for drug efficacy monitoring, and as a reference of assessing other diagnostic tools. This mismatch between quality and need highlights the importance of the establishment of reliable standards and procedures for assessing and assuring quality. This paper describes the development, function and impact of a multi-country microscopy external quality assurance network set up for this purpose in Asia. Methods Surveys were used for key informants and past participants for feedback on the quality assurance programme. Competency scores for each country from 14 participating countries were compiled for analyses using paired sample t -tests. In-depth interviews were conducted with key informants including the programme facilitators and national level microscopists. Results External assessments and limited retraining through a formalized programme based on a reference slide bank has demonstrated an increase in standards of competence of senior microscopists over a relatively short period of time, at a potentially sustainable cost. The network involved in the programme now exceeds 14 countries in the Asia-Pacific, and the methods are extended to other regions. Conclusions While the impact on national programmes varies, it has translated in some instances into a strengthening of national microscopy standards and offers a possibility both for supporting revival of national microcopy ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Pacific Malaria Journal 11 1 352 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Malaria microscopy Diagnostics Quality assurance programmes Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
spellingShingle |
Malaria microscopy Diagnostics Quality assurance programmes Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 Ashraf Sania Kao Angie Hugo Cecilia Christophel Eva M Fatunmbi Bayo Luchavez Jennifer Lilley Ken Bell David Developing standards for malaria microscopy: external competency assessment for malaria microscopists in the Asia-Pacific |
topic_facet |
Malaria microscopy Diagnostics Quality assurance programmes Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
description |
Abstract Background Malaria diagnosis has received renewed interest in recent years, associated with the increasing accessibility of accurate diagnosis through the introduction of rapid diagnostic tests and new World Health Organization guidelines recommending parasite-based diagnosis prior to anti-malarial therapy. However, light microscopy, established over 100 years ago and frequently considered the reference standard for clinical diagnosis, has been neglected in control programmes and in the malaria literature and evidence suggests field standards are commonly poor. Microscopy remains the most accessible method for parasite quantitation, for drug efficacy monitoring, and as a reference of assessing other diagnostic tools. This mismatch between quality and need highlights the importance of the establishment of reliable standards and procedures for assessing and assuring quality. This paper describes the development, function and impact of a multi-country microscopy external quality assurance network set up for this purpose in Asia. Methods Surveys were used for key informants and past participants for feedback on the quality assurance programme. Competency scores for each country from 14 participating countries were compiled for analyses using paired sample t -tests. In-depth interviews were conducted with key informants including the programme facilitators and national level microscopists. Results External assessments and limited retraining through a formalized programme based on a reference slide bank has demonstrated an increase in standards of competence of senior microscopists over a relatively short period of time, at a potentially sustainable cost. The network involved in the programme now exceeds 14 countries in the Asia-Pacific, and the methods are extended to other regions. Conclusions While the impact on national programmes varies, it has translated in some instances into a strengthening of national microscopy standards and offers a possibility both for supporting revival of national microcopy ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ashraf Sania Kao Angie Hugo Cecilia Christophel Eva M Fatunmbi Bayo Luchavez Jennifer Lilley Ken Bell David |
author_facet |
Ashraf Sania Kao Angie Hugo Cecilia Christophel Eva M Fatunmbi Bayo Luchavez Jennifer Lilley Ken Bell David |
author_sort |
Ashraf Sania |
title |
Developing standards for malaria microscopy: external competency assessment for malaria microscopists in the Asia-Pacific |
title_short |
Developing standards for malaria microscopy: external competency assessment for malaria microscopists in the Asia-Pacific |
title_full |
Developing standards for malaria microscopy: external competency assessment for malaria microscopists in the Asia-Pacific |
title_fullStr |
Developing standards for malaria microscopy: external competency assessment for malaria microscopists in the Asia-Pacific |
title_full_unstemmed |
Developing standards for malaria microscopy: external competency assessment for malaria microscopists in the Asia-Pacific |
title_sort |
developing standards for malaria microscopy: external competency assessment for malaria microscopists in the asia-pacific |
publisher |
BMC |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-11-352 https://doaj.org/article/5a228cd26af04716a540e8a2068f14c6 |
geographic |
Arctic Pacific |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Pacific |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
Malaria Journal, Vol 11, Iss 1, p 352 (2012) |
op_relation |
http://www.malariajournal.com/content/11/1/352 https://doaj.org/toc/1475-2875 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-11-352 1475-2875 https://doaj.org/article/5a228cd26af04716a540e8a2068f14c6 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-11-352 |
container_title |
Malaria Journal |
container_volume |
11 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
352 |
_version_ |
1766344744942698496 |