[Laboratory performance of primary care units in tuberculosis diagnosis in Pelotas, Brazil].
In order to assess laboratory performance of Primary Care Units (UAP, Spanish acronym) in TB diagnosis though the sputum smear test in Pelotas, Brazil, a descriptive study was completed which included all sputum smear tests requested at eleven primary care units from 2007 to 2010. To assess laboratory performance, the number of sputum smear tests requested was quantified as well as the time between the request and the reading of the glass slides at the lab. 477 requests were registered at UAP. Of this total, only 51,8% were found in the laboratorys record book, the lowest performance was 24,2% and the highest 71,4%. Regarding the reading of glass slides, it was determined that 27,7% readings took 8 days or more. It is concluded that the primary care units in Pelotas have a low laboratory performance in TB diagnosis by sputum smear tests.
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brasil.
Dagoberta Alves
DA
Vieira Beduhn
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brasil.
Jenifer
J
Harter
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brasil.
Simone
S
Pieren Dos Reis
Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brasil.
Luize
L
Barbosa Antunes
Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brasil.
Roxana Isabel
RI
Cardozo-Gonzales
D001938:Brazil; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D011320:Primary Health Care; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis*