Suriname

Summary of activities by year

Until 31 December 2017 linked to ex-SRL Boston

2015

• • Assistance in capturing  consumption data for laboratory commodities and estimated future use 

  • Developed a list of reagents and supplies according to each diagnostic procedure currently performed at the TB lab

  • Training of the new technical supervisor for management of the TB lab  

  • Didactic and practical training for setting up rapid identification method  

  • Conducted practical and didactic refresher training for ZN microscopy and introduction to Fluorescent microscopy (didactic) in order to initiating a fluorescent microscopy at Central Laboratory

  • Reviewed procedures for new method validation and implementation 

  • Validation of identification method and implementation

  • Partners meeting to discuss progress and challenges (In country PAHO representative, GF Project Coordinator), NTP Manager, Acting Bacteriology Head, Central Lab Director and Acting TB Lab Manager, Central Lab) and the MSRL Team. 

Drug susceptibility and Proficiency Testing 

DST not implemented yet. CL staff is being trained this year for first line DST by solid agar proportion method. Samples sent to MSRL for DST testing when required. 

2014

• • Review of validation data for NALC-NaOH method and troubleshooting for contamination problems 

  • Training for MGIT DST

  • QC of in house prepared LJ media – sensitivity testing

  • Discussed the plan for validation of liquid culture by CL staff and its implementation

  • Training provided to CL staff on the daily use, maintenance and quality control of autoclave. 

2013

• • Reviewed EQA results and explained likely causes of discordant results. Defined process for improvement

  • Assist the CL to continue EQA for AFB smear microscopy, increase participation from current sites, and assist CL in providing assessment and training to laboratories under their supervision.

  • Monitored  specimen processing solution preparation, their quality control and assessment of specimen processing procedure, inoculation and incubation

  • Quality control of lab equipment used for specimen processing procedure

  • Introduction and demonstration of BACTEC 960 MGIT system for Implementation of liquid culture

2012

• • EQA for AFB Smear Microscopy: Technical Assessment & Training

    • Conducted microscopy training and assessment visits: Central Lab –TB (CL, Paramaribo), Academic Hospital (Paramaribo) and Streek Ziekenhuis Nickerie (SZN) laboratory (Nickerie)

    • Utilized validated slide panels for evaluation (5 stained, 5 Unstained)

    • Petroff processing method assessment and NALC/NaOH reagent preparation 

  • Overall Quality Control Procedures including Lab Equipment, SOPs and Current methods/protocols etc.

  • Didactic and practical workshop for improvement of sputum specimen collection procedure including train-the-trainer exercise for patient instructions

  • Training for use of GeneXpert 

  • Demonstration of NALC-NaOH processing method 

  • Training for recording and reading of culture results