title: Standard Operating Procedure Utilization for Tuberculosis Microscopy in Mekelle City, North Ethiopia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the utilization of standard operating procedures for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear microscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in select health institutions in Mekelle City, Ethiopia, from July 1, 2015, through August 30, 2015. Using a simple random sampling technique, 18 health facilities were included in the study. Data were collected using a standard checklist and entered into Epi Info version 3.5.4 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA) for editing. Analysis was done using SPSS version 20 (SPSS, Chicago, IL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 18 laboratory facilities, only seven (38.9%) had a legible AFB registration book. In three (16.7%) of the laboratories, heat fixation was not applied before adding primary staining reagent. In 12 (66.7%), the staining reagents had precipitates. Two laboratories had microscopes with mechanical stages that could not move freely on both axes. Seven (38.9%) of the laboratories reported samples to be negative before examining all required fields. Most laboratories, 16 (88.9%) and 17 (94.4%), respectively, did not run positive and negative controls after new batch reagent preparation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tuberculosis microscopy was found to be substandard with clear gaps in documentation, sample collection, and processing.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology.
authors.forename: Yemane
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Weldu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Hagos
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gebru
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology.
authors.forename: Getahun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kahsay
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Gebremichael
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Teweldemedhn
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Yifter
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hagos
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology.
authors.forename: Amlsha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kahsay
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005002:Ethiopia; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D011786:Quality Control; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: AFB microscopy; SOP utilization; TB