Lessons from the Field

SLIPTA e-Tool improves laboratory audit process in Vietnam and Cambodia

Thuong T. Nguyen, Barbara McKinney, Antoine Pierson, Khue N. Luong, Quynh T. Hoang, Sandeep Meharwal, Humberto M. Carvalho, Cuong Q. Nguyen, Kim T. Nguyen, Kyle B. Bond
African Journal of Laboratory Medicine | Vol 3, No 2 | a219 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v3i2.219 | © 2014 Thuong T. Nguyen, Barbara McKinney, Antoine Pierson, Khue N. Luong, Quynh T. Hoang, Sandeep Meharwal, Humberto M. Carvalho, Cuong Q. Nguyen, Kim T. Nguyen, Kyle B. Bond | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 06 August 2014 | Published: 03 November 2014

About the author(s)

Thuong T. Nguyen, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE), Viet Nam
Barbara McKinney, Mayo Clinic, United States
Antoine Pierson, Integrated Quality Laboratory Services (IQLS), France
Khue N. Luong, Vietnam Administration for Medical Services (VAMS), Viet Nam
Quynh T. Hoang, US Centers for Disease Control and Preventin (CDC), Viet Nam
Sandeep Meharwal, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Deliver Project, Indonesia
Humberto M. Carvalho, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), United States
Cuong Q. Nguyen, FHI360, Viet Nam
Kim T. Nguyen, French Department – Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Viet Nam
Kyle B. Bond, US Centers for Disease Control and Preventin (CDC), Viet Nam

Abstract

Background: The Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) checklist is used worldwide to drive quality improvement in laboratories in developing countries and to assess the effectiveness of interventions such as the Strengthening Laboratory Management Toward Accreditation (SLMTA) programme. However, the paperbased format of the checklist makes administration cumbersome and limits timely analysis and communication of results.

Development of e-Tool: In early 2012, the SLMTA team in Vietnam developed an electronic SLIPTA checklist tool. The e-Tool was pilot tested in Vietnam in mid-2012 and revised. It was used during SLMTA implementation in Vietnam and Cambodia in 2012 and 2013 and further revised based on auditors’ feedback about usability.

Outcomes: The SLIPTA e-Tool enabled rapid turn-around of audit results, reduced workload and language barriers and facilitated analysis of national results. Benefits of the e-Tool will be magnified with in-country scale-up of laboratory quality improvement efforts and potential expansion to other countries.


Keywords

laboratory; SLMTA; quality improvement; monitoring and evaluation

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Crossref Citations

1. Enhancing accreditation outcomes for medical laboratories on the Strengthening Laboratory Management Toward Accreditation programme in Kenya via a rapid results initiative
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