Tuberc Respir Dis.  1976 Mar;23(1):18-24. 10.4046/trd.1976.23.1.18.

Evaluation of Microscopic Technique of Microscopists

• KMID: 2528971
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1976.23.1.18

Abstract

This paper is based on data collected during the past several years from tests given to field workers, and designed to measure performance levels under programme conditions, and also to determine the different supervisory techniques on the quality of work at the field level. Especially in 1972, various parameters such as educational background, size of health center, and length of work experience were checked for any effect on quality of technique. Tests were given to selected tuberculosis follow-up workers working at the city and county level full-time microscopists. Test results show a marked improvement of slide reading ability over the course of 7 years from 1967 to 1974. In 1967 the false negative rate was 22%, false positive 13%. By 1974 they had .dropped to 14 and 3% respectively. 1m 1972, supervisors visited 94 randomly selected health centers and gave a standardized test of microscope read-ability to the person in charge of sputum tests and also checked several performance indices relating to laboratory work. Results showed that educational background was not a factor in better slide reading ability, instead, performance seemed to best influenced by attitude and moral. In conclusion, this survey seems to offer concrete proof that health programmes with limited resources and numbers of qualified personnel can successfully utilize lay personnel for laboratory work if the job position is secure and if they can be properly supervised.