DTS-BASED CAPACITY BUILDING FOR LABORATORY TEAMS IN SOKOTO, ZAMFARA AND KEBBI STATES
HSCL ACE3 Project recently conducted DTS-Based Proficiency Testing and Quality Control Capacity Building for Laboratory Teams Across the 3 Project States. The 5-day training which took place at the Medical Laboratory Complex, Kebbi Medical Center (KMC) Kalgo from 4th to 8th of June 2024, had the ACE 3 Lab teams from Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states in attendance.
The training was aimed at ensuring high-quality HIV testing through robust external quality assurance and internal quality control processes, supporting global HIV/AIDS control goals in line with UNAID’s triple 95 targets of ensuring that 95% of people living with HIV in the project states knowing their HIV status, accessing ART and achieving viral load suppression.
The exercise was also to set up a centralized production of DTS panels by SQAT, with technical guidance from ACE3 advisors, ensuring consistent quality across all testing points, and empowering SQAT members on DTS panel production and Excternal Quality Assurance (EQA) panel coding to promote local ownership and sustainability. It also facilitated the distribution of EQA/proficiency panels to all supported HIV testing points in Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara, ensuring widespread quality assurance.
With the adaptation of Provider Initiated Testing and Counselling (PITC) to meet the UNAIDS 3 95s targets, the training is to equip the lab team to effectively monitor the quality of HIV testing in the various supported facilities. This quality is maintained through Internal Quality Control (IQC) and External Quality Assurance (EQA).
Dried Tube Specimen (DTS) panels play a crucial role in both IQC and EQA for HIV rapid testing across various laboratory and non-laboratory testing points. In alignment with PEPFAR requirements, ACE3 implements three DTS-based EQA cycles annually to ensure high-quality HIV testing across all service delivery points. These DTS panels also serve as weekly internal quality controls.
The training also covered the detailed processes for panel coding, distribution, result collation, analysis, and feedback, with corrective actions for any proficiency testing failures, ensuring continuous improvement and accountability.
Speaking on the significance of the capacity building exercise, HSCL-ACE 3 Senior Lab. & Supply Chain Advisor, Lorhen Nyam said the integration of DTS panels into ACE 3’s quality assurance processes mark a significant step forward in the project’s commitment to maintaining high standards in HIV testing across all service delivery points.
“Our goal is not only to meet the UNAIDS '95-95-95' targets but to surpass them by ensuring that every test conducted is accurate and reliable, fostering trust in our healthcare system" he added.
In his remarks, the Sokoto Laboratory Advisor, Eli Ishaku emphasized that equipping the SQAT with the skills and knowledge to produce and manage DTS panels means the project is investing in the long-term sustainability and self-sufficiency for quality assurance.