TY - JOUR
T1 - Test Cost and Test Accuracy in Clinical Laboratories in Kampala, Uganda
AU - Amukele, Timothy K.
AU - Jones, Robert
AU - Elbireer, Ali
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 American Society for Clinical Pathology, All rights reserved.
Copyright:
Copyright 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2018/4/25
Y1 - 2018/4/25
N2 - Objectives: To assess the accuracy and costs of laboratory tests in Kampala, Uganda. Methods: A random selection of 78 laboratories tested external quality assurance samples at market rates. There were 40 moderate- to high-complexity and 38 low-complexity laboratories. Four percent (3/78) of these laboratories were accredited and 94% (73/78) were private. The 40 moderate- to high-complexity laboratories performed malaria blood smear, urine human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis, glucose, and three-panel tests: CBC, liver function tests, and kidney function tests. The 38 low-complexity laboratories performed malaria blood smear, urine hCG, and syphilis testing only. Hematology, HIV, syphilis, and malarial proficiency testing samples were prepared by accredited laboratories in Kampala. All other samples were provided by the Royal College of Pathologists of Australia. Results: 77.1% of all results were accurate (met target values). It varied widely by laboratory (50%-100%), test identity (malaria blood smear, 96%; serum urea nitrogen, 38%), and test type (quantitative: 66% [31%-89%], qualitative: 91% [68%-97%]). Test prices varied by up to 3,600%, and there was no correlation between test cost and accuracy (r 2 = 0.02). Conclusions: There were large differences in accuracy and price across laboratories in Kampala. Price was not associated with quality.
AB - Objectives: To assess the accuracy and costs of laboratory tests in Kampala, Uganda. Methods: A random selection of 78 laboratories tested external quality assurance samples at market rates. There were 40 moderate- to high-complexity and 38 low-complexity laboratories. Four percent (3/78) of these laboratories were accredited and 94% (73/78) were private. The 40 moderate- to high-complexity laboratories performed malaria blood smear, urine human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis, glucose, and three-panel tests: CBC, liver function tests, and kidney function tests. The 38 low-complexity laboratories performed malaria blood smear, urine hCG, and syphilis testing only. Hematology, HIV, syphilis, and malarial proficiency testing samples were prepared by accredited laboratories in Kampala. All other samples were provided by the Royal College of Pathologists of Australia. Results: 77.1% of all results were accurate (met target values). It varied widely by laboratory (50%-100%), test identity (malaria blood smear, 96%; serum urea nitrogen, 38%), and test type (quantitative: 66% [31%-89%], qualitative: 91% [68%-97%]). Test prices varied by up to 3,600%, and there was no correlation between test cost and accuracy (r 2 = 0.02). Conclusions: There were large differences in accuracy and price across laboratories in Kampala. Price was not associated with quality.
KW - Accuracy
KW - Africa
KW - Cost
KW - Laboratory
KW - Quality
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U2 - 10.1093/ajcp/aqy017
DO - 10.1093/ajcp/aqy017
M3 - Article
C2 - 29659678
AN - SCOPUS:85046269313
SN - 0002-9173
VL - 149
SP - 522
EP - 529
JO - American journal of clinical pathology
JF - American journal of clinical pathology
IS - 6
ER -