Attaining ISO 15189 accreditation through SLMTA: A journey by Kenya’s National HIV Reference Laboratory
Background: The National HIV Reference Laboratory (NHRL) serves as Kenya’s referral HIV laboratory, offering specialised testing and external quality assessment, as well as operating the national HIV serology proficiency scheme. In 2010, the Kenya Ministry of Health established a goal for NHRL to ac...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
AOSIS
2014-11-01
|
Series: | African Journal of Laboratory Medicine |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://ajlmonline.org/index.php/ajlm/article/view/216 |
id |
doaj-9368d1d0b93b43229a0469e98f2bf4dd |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-9368d1d0b93b43229a0469e98f2bf4dd2020-11-25T00:16:16ZengAOSISAfrican Journal of Laboratory Medicine2225-20022225-20102014-11-0132e1e910.4102/ajlm.v3i2.21662Attaining ISO 15189 accreditation through SLMTA: A journey by Kenya’s National HIV Reference LaboratoryThomas Gachuki0Risper Sewe1Jane Mwangi2David Turgeon3Mary Garcia4Elizabeth T. Luman5Mamo Umuro6Kenya Ministry of Health, National HIV Reference LaboratoryKenya Ministry of Health, National HIV Reference LaboratoryDivision of Global HIV/AIDS, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NairobiDivision of Global HIV/AIDS, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GeorgiaClinical Pathology Laboratories, Austin, Texas,Division of Global HIV/AIDS, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GeorgiaKenya Ministry of Health, National HIV Reference LaboratoryBackground: The National HIV Reference Laboratory (NHRL) serves as Kenya’s referral HIV laboratory, offering specialised testing and external quality assessment, as well as operating the national HIV serology proficiency scheme. In 2010, the Kenya Ministry of Health established a goal for NHRL to achieve international accreditation. Objectives: This study chronicles the journey that NHRL took in pursuit of accreditation, along with the challenges and lessons learned. Methods: NHRL participated in the Strengthening Laboratory Management Toward Accreditation (SLMTA) programme from 2010–2011. Improvement projects were undertaken to address gaps in the 12 quality system essentials through development of work plans, team formation, training and mentorship of personnel. Audits were conducted and the scores used to track progress along a five-star grading scale. Standard quality indicators (turn-around time, specimen rejection rates and service interruptions) were measured. Costs of improvement projects and accreditation were estimated based on expenditures. Results: NHRL scored 45% (zero stars) at baseline in March 2010 and 95% (five stars) after programme completion in October 2011; in 2013 it became the first public health laboratory in Kenya to attain ISO 15189 accreditation. From 2010–2013, turn-around times decreased by 50% – 95%, specimen rejections decreased by 93% and service interruptions dropped from 15 to zero days. Laboratory expenditures associated with achieving accreditation were approximately US $36 500. Conclusion: International accreditation is achievable through SLMTA, even for a laboratory with limited initial quality management systems. Key success factors were dedication to a shared goal, leadership commitment, team formation and effective mentorship. Countries wishing to achieve accreditation must ensure adequate funding and support.https://ajlmonline.org/index.php/ajlm/article/view/216Laboratory accreditation, SLMTA, Team formation, Mentorship, ISO 15189. |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Thomas Gachuki Risper Sewe Jane Mwangi David Turgeon Mary Garcia Elizabeth T. Luman Mamo Umuro |
spellingShingle |
Thomas Gachuki Risper Sewe Jane Mwangi David Turgeon Mary Garcia Elizabeth T. Luman Mamo Umuro Attaining ISO 15189 accreditation through SLMTA: A journey by Kenya’s National HIV Reference Laboratory African Journal of Laboratory Medicine Laboratory accreditation, SLMTA, Team formation, Mentorship, ISO 15189. |
author_facet |
Thomas Gachuki Risper Sewe Jane Mwangi David Turgeon Mary Garcia Elizabeth T. Luman Mamo Umuro |
author_sort |
Thomas Gachuki |
title |
Attaining ISO 15189 accreditation through SLMTA: A journey by Kenya’s National HIV Reference Laboratory |
title_short |
Attaining ISO 15189 accreditation through SLMTA: A journey by Kenya’s National HIV Reference Laboratory |
title_full |
Attaining ISO 15189 accreditation through SLMTA: A journey by Kenya’s National HIV Reference Laboratory |
title_fullStr |
Attaining ISO 15189 accreditation through SLMTA: A journey by Kenya’s National HIV Reference Laboratory |
title_full_unstemmed |
Attaining ISO 15189 accreditation through SLMTA: A journey by Kenya’s National HIV Reference Laboratory |
title_sort |
attaining iso 15189 accreditation through slmta: a journey by kenya’s national hiv reference laboratory |
publisher |
AOSIS |
series |
African Journal of Laboratory Medicine |
issn |
2225-2002 2225-2010 |
publishDate |
2014-11-01 |
description |
Background: The National HIV Reference Laboratory (NHRL) serves as Kenya’s referral HIV laboratory, offering specialised testing and external quality assessment, as well as operating the national HIV serology proficiency scheme. In 2010, the Kenya Ministry of Health established a goal for NHRL to achieve international accreditation.
Objectives: This study chronicles the journey that NHRL took in pursuit of accreditation, along with the challenges and lessons learned.
Methods: NHRL participated in the Strengthening Laboratory Management Toward Accreditation (SLMTA) programme from 2010–2011. Improvement projects were undertaken to address gaps in the 12 quality system essentials through development of work plans, team formation, training and mentorship of personnel. Audits were conducted and the scores used to track progress along a five-star grading scale. Standard quality indicators (turn-around time, specimen rejection rates and service interruptions) were measured. Costs of improvement projects and accreditation were estimated based on expenditures.
Results: NHRL scored 45% (zero stars) at baseline in March 2010 and 95% (five stars) after programme completion in October 2011; in 2013 it became the first public health laboratory in Kenya to attain ISO 15189 accreditation. From 2010–2013, turn-around times decreased by 50% – 95%, specimen rejections decreased by 93% and service interruptions dropped from 15 to zero days. Laboratory expenditures associated with achieving accreditation were approximately US $36 500.
Conclusion: International accreditation is achievable through SLMTA, even for a laboratory with limited initial quality management systems. Key success factors were dedication to a shared goal, leadership commitment, team formation and effective mentorship. Countries wishing to achieve accreditation must ensure adequate funding and support. |
topic |
Laboratory accreditation, SLMTA, Team formation, Mentorship, ISO 15189. |
url |
https://ajlmonline.org/index.php/ajlm/article/view/216 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT thomasgachuki attainingiso15189accreditationthroughslmtaajourneybykenyasnationalhivreferencelaboratory AT rispersewe attainingiso15189accreditationthroughslmtaajourneybykenyasnationalhivreferencelaboratory AT janemwangi attainingiso15189accreditationthroughslmtaajourneybykenyasnationalhivreferencelaboratory AT davidturgeon attainingiso15189accreditationthroughslmtaajourneybykenyasnationalhivreferencelaboratory AT marygarcia attainingiso15189accreditationthroughslmtaajourneybykenyasnationalhivreferencelaboratory AT elizabethtluman attainingiso15189accreditationthroughslmtaajourneybykenyasnationalhivreferencelaboratory AT mamoumuro attainingiso15189accreditationthroughslmtaajourneybykenyasnationalhivreferencelaboratory |
_version_ |
1725383639067262976 |