title: Safety assessment in primary Mycobacterium tuberculosis smear microscopy centres in Blantyre Malawi: a facility based cross sectional survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is transmitted mainly through aerosolization of infected sputum which puts laboratory workers at risk in spite of the laboratory workers' risk of infection being at 3 to 9 times higher than the general public. Laboratory safety should therefore be prioritized and optimized to provide sufficient safety to laboratory workers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the safety for the laboratory workers in TB primary microscopy centres in Blantyre urban.
  
  
  METHODS
  TB primary microscopy centers in Blantyre urban were assessed in aspects of equipment availability, facility layout, and work practice, using a standardized WHO/AFRO ISO 15189 checklist for the developing countries which sets the minimum safety score at ≥80%. Each center was graded according to the score it earned upon assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only one (1) microscopy center out nine (9) reached the minimum safety requirement. Four (4) centers were awarded 1 star level, four (4) centers were awarded 2 star level and only one (1) center was awarded 3 star level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Blantyre urban, 89% of the Tuberculosis microscopy centers are failing to provide the minimum safety to the laboratory workers. Government and other stake holders should be committed in addressing the safety challenges of TB microscopy centres in the country to ensure safety for the laboratory workers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is recommended that the study be conducted at the regional or national level for both public and private laboratories in order to have a general picture of safety in Tb microscopy centres possibly across the country.
authors.affiliation: Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Malawi.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Majamanda
authors.affiliation: Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Malawi.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ndhlovu
authors.affiliation: Pathology & Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Malawi.
authors.forename: I T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Shawa
mesh_terms: D057189:Checklist; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards*; D008295:Malawi; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012449:Safety; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000592:standards