title: Bottlenecks and recommendations for the incorporation of new technologies in the tuberculosis laboratory network in Brazil.
abstract: The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently recommended new technologies for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. The WHO recommendations include the development of a strategic plan for bringing the network up to grade; investment in supervision and quality control; and implementation of a system of laboratory environmental management. Without those measures having been taken, no new technology can be effectively incorporated. We surveyed the tuberculosis laboratory network in Brazil in order to identify possible bottlenecks for the incorporation of new technologies. We identified a lack of resources allocated to supervision and quality control; a low number of requests for cultures; a lack of effective laboratory information systems; and a lack of awareness regarding the future infrastructure needs of the laboratory network at the municipal level.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. atelles.msh@gmail.com
authors.forename: Maria Alice da Silva
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Telles
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.forename: Anete
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trajman
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D002984:Clinical Laboratory Information Systems / Q000592:standards*; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D006077:Government Agencies; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D040442:Public Health Informatics; D011786:Quality Control; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000078329:Workforce; D014944:World Health Organization