title: Role of private laboratories in tuberculosis detection in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
abstract: To study the participation of the private sector in detection and diagnosis of tuberculosis, all suspected cases referring to 4 private laboratories in Tehran for acid-fast bacillus examination during 2002-03 were documented. Of 9037 cases enrolled in the study, 637 had positive examination results (7.1%). Of these 531 (5.9%) cases were direct smear-positive and 489 (5.4%) were culture-positive. Data from the Iranian Ministry of Health showed 9479 cases referred to government laboratories in Tehran urban area during the study period, 208 (2.2%) of which were positive. This larger than expected proportion of TB patients who are detected and managed by the private sector indicates that much closer cooperation is needed between the public and private sectors.
authors.affiliation: National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Teheran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Masjedi
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Asl
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fadaizadeh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018563:Disease Notification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D007753:Laboratories / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017149:Private Sector / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017150:Public Sector / Q000458:organization & administration; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D014504:Urban Health