Laboratory services

Introduction:

Lacor Hospital laboratory strives to contribute to health through the provision of quality, reliable, timely and cost effective laboratory investigations used in the management of patients, in pursuit of excellence in diagnostics, medical research and training.

The laboratory’s role is pivotal in the provision of medical care to the patients. Its main functions include provision of diagnostic services, monitoring and/or surveillance, screening, Training, research and advisory.

The laboratory has established its Management based on the ISO 15189:2012 with the aspiration of attaining accreditation. To do this, the laboratory is using the Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) Concept and model.

The laboratory takes the legal identity of St. Mary’s hospital Lacor. The laboratory is recognized by the Allied Health Professionals Council (Uganda Ministry of Health) and has embraced the route towards accreditation based on ISO 15189:2012, since 2011.

Its quality management system is specifically designed to: support the vision, mission, and values; to improve customer satisfaction; and to promote quality in the work of the laboratory, hospital and ultimately the whole community.

 Organization

The Laboratory is one of the core units of the hospital. Its role is central in the provision of quality services to the patients. The Laboratory offers a 24-hour service to cover for emergencies. The Laboratory is sub divided into smaller units according to the scope of services offered.

 Laboratory Management

The Laboratory is managed by the Head Laboratory Services also referred to as the Laboratory manager and reports to the Medical Director. The Laboratory Manager ensures that Laboratory personnel have appropriate authority and resources to carry out their duties as defined in their job descriptions.

The Laboratory Manager works hand in hand with the Technical supervisor, Quality officer.

Biosafety officer and the in charges of sections in the day to day running of the Laboratory.

 

Scope of Services offered

• Provision of diagnostic services.

There is a wide range of Laboratory diagnostic tests performed at Lacor hospital Laboratory. These include:

• Reception and Phlebotomy services.

The Laboratory receives and collects specimens for Laboratory analysis both from internal patients and referrals.

 Haematology.

Diagnostic Haematology tests provided include full blood counts, ESR, enumeration of blood cell morphologies (film comments), Haemoglobin estimations, Reticulocytes count, Sickle cell testing and confirmation and coagulation tests.

 Biochemistry.

Clinical chemistry tests offered include Liver function tests, Renal function tests, bone profile, Lipid profile, Cardiac profile, Pancreatic tests and metabolic tests.

 Blood transfusion.

The hospital blood bank is one of the busiest units of the Laboratory. It offers routine blood grouping and compatibility testing. Located in a malaria endemic region with persistent shortage of safe blood, the blood transfusion unit provides donor recruitment, screening and bleeding in times of emergency.

 Immunology.

The Laboratory offers selected Immunological tests which include HIV rapid testing, Hepatitis B surface antigen testing, Hepatitis C antibody testing, CD₄ testing_, Toxoplasma          IgG and IgM, AFP and PSA. The Laboratory also collects dry blood samples for early          infant HIV diagnosis and HIV viral load which are analysed at the central government          Laboratory.

 Hormonal testing.

The immunology unit of the laboratory offers assays for Thyroid function (TSH, T₃, T₄) and reproductive hormones (β-hCG, FSH, Progesterone, oestrogen, LH, Prolactin and testosterone).

Serology.

Serology tests include Brucella agglutination test, Rheumatoid factor, serum and CSF crag, syphilis screening and confirmation tests (VDRL and TPHA).

Parasitology.

Blood, stool and skin parasite tests are offered. These include tests for Malaria, trypanosomes, filaria, leishmania and intestinal parasites. Both direct and concentration techniques are applied.

Microbiology.

Routine cultures and sensitivity testing is performed on different specimens including Blood, CSF, urine, high vaginal swabs, stool, throat swabs and pus swabs. The unit also offers analysis of CSF, aspirates, semen, skin scrapping for fungal infections, Gram          staining, ZN staining and FM for TB. Molecular diagnosis and detection of Rifampicin resistance using the Genexpert is also available.

Histopathology.

The well-equipped and functional histopathology Laboratory offers a range of services including Cytological examinations (PAP smears, CSF and other body fluids), biopsy examinations (H&E, special stains and limited immunohistochemistry) and Autopsies. The unit has a resident Pathologist and receives visiting Pathologists as well.

Out Patients and Private wing Laboratories.

Situated in the general out-patient department and the private clinic, the laboratories          offer diagnostic tests to mainly out patients. The services provided here are usually less complicated diagnostic and screening tests. They include but not limited to Malaria and other blood parasites, haemoglobin, stool examination, urine analysis and sickle cell testing.

 Training services.

The Laboratory offers Practicum training facilities for students coming from both the hospital training schools and from outside schools and Universities. These include Certificate, Diploma undergraduate and graduate students.

Surveillance.

Lacor hospital Laboratory has been in the fore front in monitoring and detection of disease out breaks within the region. Being the only laboratory with up to date facilities for culturing and sensitivity testing, the laboratory is the only regional site for monitoring and detecting epidemic prone diseases such as Cholera, Meningitis, Malaria and Hepatitis. The Laboratory participates in various District, Regional, National and International surveillance programs.

  Research.

The Laboratory has been and continues to be an excellent site for research. We continue to participate and partner with difference organizations in the field of research at different levels; local, National and international.

 Advisory.

The Laboratory staff provide extensive advisory service to our clients which include scientific advice on the full range of tests and diagnostic services provided.

Laboratory Management continuously provides advice to top hospital management regarding Laboratory services for better service delivery.

Laboratory quality policy statement

Lacor Hospital Laboratory strives to improve the health and welfare of the population of

Northern Uganda by being a driver of Quality Health care provision through Quality

Laboratory diagnostic, Disease surveillance and monitoring, research and capacity building Services.

 Standard of service

We are committed to providing the highest standard laboratory services aimed at meeting or exceeding our clients’ expectations while maintaining an effective quality management system and commitment to good professional practice.

 Quality Objectives

 To ensure successful achievement of the above, we specifically strive to:

 

1. Reduce sample rejection to less than 3% within one year of implementing the Laboratory Quality Management System.
2. Strive to minimize laboratory errors and ensure that a pass mark of greater 95% is attained in each event of the External Quality Assessment Program.
3. Ensure that 90 % of all test results meet the stipulated Turnaround Time every
4. Focus on customer satisfaction and continual improvement and ensure that all customer complaints submitted to the laboratory are addressed conclusively and in a timely manner each time.
5. Address root causes of all non-conformities (100%) in time whenever identified and implement Corrective/Preventive Action to prevent reoccurrence.

The laboratory annual management review meetings provide a framework for establishing and reviewing quality objectives for continuing suitability.

Our focus.

To attain accreditation.