LABORATORY
HOD: Mr. O. Mwasulama
The Laboratory premises were inherited from the former Mbeya Regional Hospital. The equipment was as old as the former Regional Hospital Laboratory premises.
In the year 2002, rehabilitation of the Laboratory building started and completed in July 2003. Still the premises was inadequate for a Zonal Hospital, expansion of the premises was required. The competence of the Laboratory was not established until late 2006. The main cause of delay was the lack of modern equipments (Analyzer), training of the personnel, attitude and sustainable reagents, consumable and supplies.
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From 2006 new high volume lab equipment for CD4 Enumeration, Chemistry and Haematology analyzer (FACS CALIBUR,COBAS INTEGRA 400PLUS,ACT 5 Diff BECKMAN COULTER respectively) was procured by Ministry of Health and Social welfare under the support of CDC Tanzania.
There after Walter Reed HIV/AIDS Programme Southern Highland came on board and has been greatly supporting the Laboratory. |
The Walter Reed HIV/AIDS Programme Southern Highland has been continuously supporting the Laboratory in the following ares:
- Building capacity –Training
- Implementation of QA/QC Department
- Procurement of Laboratory reagents &Supplies
- Procurement of Laboratory equipment ie Fridge, Deep, freezer, Centrifuges, Water system, Stabilizer, Multi lock System (Security door), Computers, Water system, Precision Balance (calibrator - for pipette calibration ), Air conditioning for the lab rooms, Monitoring tools(thermometers)
In 2007, construction to expand the Pathology lab stated under the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the support of Development partner Walter Reed HIV/AIDS Programme Southern Highland zone. The Pathology lab is now operational with modern facilities and services such as tele pathology.
Organization and function
The Laboratory consists of the following sections and functions:
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- Microbiology: Bacteriology
- Haematology / Blood bank (BTS)
- Clinical Chemistry
- Parasitology / Entomology
- Immunology (Serology & CD4-Testing section)
- Histopathology
- PCR Lab
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Laboratory staffing:
Current Mbeya Consultant Hospital Laboratory has 23 active Laboratory personnel.
- 8 Lab.Technologists
- 5 Laboratory technicians
- 5 Lab Assistants
- 4 Laboratory Attendants
Facility:
The Laboratory has modern equipment for different test assay stand by Generator and water reserve tank are also available.
Microbiology department
Tests available
1. Direct microscope:
- Saline preparation of bacteria
- KOH - Preparation for fungi.
- Motility test
- CSF - Examination
2. Staining:
- Gram stain
- ZN stain (Sputum for AFB , Skin smear for Leprosy & other body fluids
- Indian ink (Negative stain)
Cultures and sensitivity:
- Urine culture
- Pus (aerobic)
- Body fluids
- Stool/Rectal swabs for Vibrio cholerae
- Stool culture
- Genital swab culture (STI)
- CSF-Cultures
- Blood Culture & Sensitivity testing
- Sterility tests
Serological test
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HIV serology
- CD4 test for ART
- RPR/VDRL serology
- SERODIA - TPPA serology (Confirmation of Syphilis)
- Toxoplasma gondii
- Cryptococcal Antigen-CSF
- Hepatitis B (HBsAg)
- Pregnancy test serology
- Rheumatoid factor serology
- PSA (Prostatic Specific Antigen) serology for Prostate Cancer
Equipment available in Microbiology section:
- Microscope
- Water bath
- Incubator(Aerobic)
- Hot air oven
- Autoclave
- Mechanical rotator
- BACTEC 9050 Blood culture machine
- Biological safety cabinet class II
- Bunsen burner
- Spirit burners
PCR Laboratory:
EID-HIV by DNA PCR for infants under 18 months & RNA -RCR (Viral Load)
Equipments available in pcr lab section:
- MagNa pure LC
- Ampli Prep with Taqman 48
- Voltex
- Micro 200 Centrifuge
- Computer & Printer
- Thermocycle
- Incubator
- Wash machine
- Reader machine with printer
- Heat block
- Computer
- Calibrator
