Laboratory systems and services are critical in global health: Time to end the neglect?

American Journal of Clinical Pathology

Volumn 134, Issue 3, 2010, Pages 368-373

  Nkengasong, John N ^a   Nsubuga, Peter ^a   Nwanyanwu, Okey ^b   Gershy Damet, Guy Michel ^d   Roscigno, Giorgio ^e   Bulterys, Marc ^c   Schoub, Barry ^f   DeCock, Kevin M ^d   Birx, Deborah ^a  

^a CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION   (United States)

^b Global AIDS Programs   (South Africa)

^c CHINESE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION   (China)

^d WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION   (Switzerland)

^e FOUNDATION FOR INNOVATIVE NEW DIAGNOSTICS   (Switzerland)

^f NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR COMMUNICABLE DISEASES   (South Africa)

Author keywords

Global health; Infectious diseases; Laboratory strengthening; National laboratory systems; Public health

Indexed keywords

ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME; HEALTH CARE COST; HEALTH CARE POLICY; HEALTH CARE SYSTEM; HEALTH PROGRAM; HEALTH SERVICE; HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS; LABORATORY TEST; MALARIA; MEDICAL EDUCATION; PRIORITY JOURNAL; REVIEW; TUBERCULOSIS;

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES, EMERGING; DEVELOPING COUNTRIES; HEALTH RESOURCES; HUMANS; LABORATORIES; LABORATORY PERSONNEL; LABORATORY TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES; LEADERSHIP; NATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAMS; WORLD HEALTH;

EID: 77956573331     PISSN: 00029173     EISSN: 19437722     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1309/AJCPMPSINQ9BRMU6     Document Type: Review

References (29)

1. Chan ED, Iseman MD. Multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis: a review. Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2008;21:587-595.
2. Drosten C, Gunther S, Preiser W, et al. Identification of the novel coronavirus in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome. N Engl J Med. 2003;348:1967-1976. (Pubitemid 36569985)
3. Subbarao K, Klimov A, Katz J, et al. Characterization of an avian influenza A (H5N1) virus isolated from a child with a fatal respiratory illness. Science. 1998;279:393-396.
4. Chowell G, Bertozzi SM, Colchero MA, et al. Severe respiratory disease concurrent with circulation of H1N1 influenza. N Engl J Med. 2009;361:674-679.
5. Cohen J. The great funding surge. Science. 2008;321:512-519.
6. Roberts L, Jasny B. HIV/AIDS: money matters. Science. 2008;321:511.
7. Piot P, Kazatchkine M, Dybul M, et al. AIDS: lessons learnt and myths dispelled. Lancet. 2009;374:260-263.
8. World Bank. Cross-country laboratory network to raise East Africa's defenses against disease. http://go.worldbank.org/ JZDNOH6ZD0. Accessed June 1, 2010.
9. Bates I, Maitland K. Are laboratory services coming of age in sub-Saharan Africa [editorial]? Clin Infect Dis. 2006;42:383-384.
10. Petti CA, Polage CR, Quinn TC, et al. Laboratory medicine in Africa: a barrier to effective health care. Clin Infect Dis. 2006;42:377-382. (Pubitemid 43122314)
11. Polage CR, Bedu-Addo G, Owusu-Ofori A, et al. Laboratory use in Ghana: physician perception and practice. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2006;75:526-531.
12. Berkelman R, Cassell G, Specter S, et al. The "Achilles heel" of global efforts to combat infectious diseases [letter]. Clin Infect Dis. 2006;42:1503-1504.
13. Okeke IN. Diagnostic insufficiency in Africa [letter]. Clin Infect Dis. 2006;42:1501-1502.
14. Reyburn H, Mbatia R, Drakeley C, et al. Overdiagnosis of malaria in patients with severe febrile illness in Tanzania: a prospective study. BMJ. 2004;329:1212-1217.
15. Evans JA, Adusei A, Timmann C, et al. High mortality of infant bacteraemia clinically indistinguishable from severe malaria. QJM. 2004;97:591-597.
16. O'Dempsey TJD, McArdle TF, Laurence BE, et al. Overlap in the clinical features of pneumonia and malaria in African children. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1993;87:662-665. (Pubitemid 23350107)
17. Hamer DH, Ndhlovu M, Zurovac D, et al. Improved diagnostic testing and malaria treatment practices in Zambia. JAMA. 2007;297:2227-2231.
18. World Health Organization. The Maputo Declaration on strengthening of laboratory systems. January 2008. http://www.who.int/diagnostics-laboratory/ Maputo-Declaration-2008.pdf. Accessed January 24, 2008.
19. Nkengasong JN, Mesele T, Orloff S, et al. Critical role of developing national laboratory strategic plans as a guide to strengthen laboratory health systems in resource-poor settings. Am J Clin Pathol. 2009;131:852-857.
20. World Health Organization. International Health Regulations (2005). 2nd ed. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2005. http://whqlibdoc.who. int/ publications/2008/9789241580410-eng.pdf. Accessed May 23, 2005.
21. Outbreak news: avian influenza, Nigeria. Wkly Epidemiol Rec. 2006;81:81-82.
22. Narasimhan V, Brown H, Pablos-Mendez A, et al. Responding to the global human resources crisis. Lancet. 2004;363:1469-1472. (Pubitemid 38586725)
23. Vian T, Richards SC, McCoy K, et al. Public-private partnerships to build human capacity in low income countries: findings from the Pfizer program. Hum Resour Health. 2007;5:8-18. doi:10.1186/1478-4491-5-8.
24. The United States President's emergency plan for AIDS relief: BD and PEPFAR collaborate to strengthen laboratory systems in fight against HIV/AIDS and TB. http://2006-2009. pepfar.gov/press/94440.htm. Accessed October 31, 2007.
25. Bhatt P, Dintruff R, Schochetman G, et al. Corporate volunteerism as a pilot approach to strengthening laboratory infrastructures in Mbeya region, Tanzania. Presented at the International Conference on AIDS; July 7-12, 2002; Barcelona, Spain. Abstract MoPeG4165.
26. Alexander A. International health partnership: a welcome initiative [editorial]. Lancet. 2007;370:801. (Pubitemid 47362324)
27. Health in Africa Fund holds first close on $57m. http://www. altassets.com/private-equity-news/article/nz15936.html. Accessed June 5, 2009.
28. Office of the Press Secretary, United States. President Bush Signs HR 5501, the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/ AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 [news release]. Washington, DC: Office of the Press Secretary; July 30, 2008. http//www.whitehouse.gov/news/ releases/2008/07/20080730-12.html. Accessed October 10, 2008.
29. Nsubuga P, White M, Fontaine R, et al. Training programmes for field epidemiology. Lancet. 2008;371:630-631.