PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

John C Ridderhof

Publications and source records attributed to John C Ridderhof.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

National plan for reliable tuberculosis laboratory services using a systems approach. Recommendations from CDC and the Association of Public Health Laboratories Task Force on Tuberculosis Laboratory Services.

Since the mid-1990s, public health laboratories have improved tuberculosis (TB) test performance, which has contributed to the resumption of the decline in TB incidence in the United States. However, to eliminate TB in the United States, further improvements are needed in laboratory services to support TB treatment, prevention, and control. A critical step is the development of an integrated system that ensures prompt and reliable laboratory testing and flow of information among laboratorians, clinicians, and TB-control officials. Challenges to developing such a system include 1) establishing lines of communication among laboratorians, clinicians, and TB-control officials; 2) expediting reporting of laboratory results, which can avoid delayed or inappropriate treatment and missed opportunities to prevent transmission; 3) developing evidence-based recommendations for use of new laboratory technologies; 4) maintaining staff proficiency in light of declining numbers of specimens to test, workforce shortages, and loss of laboratory expertise; and 5) upgrading laboratory information systems and connecting all partners. The report of the Association of Public Health Laboratories Task Force presents a framework to improve the future of TB laboratory services and describes the role of the laboratory in TB treatment and control, Task Force processes, general principles and benchmarks, and steps for the dissemination of the Task Force recommendations. This MMWR expands on the Task Force report by describing specific actions and performance measures to guide development and implementation of an integrated system for providing TB laboratory services. CDC and the Association of Public Health Laboratories have developed these guidelines so that laboratorians, clinicians, public health officials, administrators, and funding entities can work together to ensure that health-care providers and TB-control officials have the information needed to treat TB patients, prevent TB transmission, and ultimately eliminate TB in the United States.

Clinical Laboratory Information Systems↗
PubMed2005

Implementation of a quality systems approach for laboratory practice in resource-constrained countries.

Under the direction of the US Global AIDS Coordinator's Office, Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC Global AIDS programme helps resource-constrained countries to address the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. Activities include laboratory capacity and laboratory infrastructure development in 25 resource-constrained countries. Medical practitioners and public health programme leaders in industrialized countries rely on the use of quality laboratory data for evidence-based medical decision-making to determine policy for the implementation of disease control measures, to monitor disease to determine the impact of control programmes, and to support surveillance activities. In these countries, laboratory data to support decision-making processes have a level of quality attributable to laws, regulations and guidelines developed over many years. However, resource-constrained countries have not had similar experiences. Few countries have developed laws, regulations or guidelines, nor is there a data-use culture (e.g. evidence-based medicine) for those in the decision-making environment in resource-constrained countries. The strengthening of laboratory capability and capacity in resource-constrained countries is an important goal to improve accurate and reliable data for the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of disease.A process for the implementation of a quality systems approach for a laboratory is presented: (i) acknowledgement of the need to improve the laboratory programme in the country at the Ministry of Health and at all decision-making levels within the provinces/states of the country; (ii) assessment of capabilities, capacities, infrastructure, and training needs; (iii) implementation of a national meeting of laboratorians; (iv) designation of a national Quality Assurance Office and leadership within that office; (v) the development and provision of technical training.

Developing Countries↗
PubMed2003

Assessment of laboratory performance of nucleic acid amplification tests for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

During implementation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Mycobacterium tuberculosis nucleic acid amplification (NAA) evaluation program, 27.1% of participants used the same biological safety cabinet for NAA and specimen processing; 28.8% reported not using unidirectional workflow. An association between false positives and adverse responses to quality assurance questions (P = 0.04) illustrated the need for following NCCLS recommendations.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.↗
PubMed2002

Core functions and capabilities of state public health laboratories: a report of the Association of Public Health Laboratories.

Emerging natural and man-made threats to the health of the nations population require development of a seamless laboratory network to address preventable health risks; this can be achieved only by defining the role of public health laboratories in public and private laboratory service delivery. Establishing defined core functions and capabilities for state public health laboratories will provide a basis for assessing and improving quality laboratory activities. Defining public health laboratory functions in support of public health programs is the beginning of the process of developing performance standards for laboratories, against which state public health laboratories, and eventually local public health and clinical laboratories, will establish and implement best laboratory practices. Public health is changing, and as apart of that change, public health laboratories must advocate for and implement improvements for public health testing and surveillance. These changes are outlined also in the Association of Public Health Laboratories consensus report (Association of Public Health Laboratories. Core functions and capabilities of state public health laboratories: a white paper for use in understanding the role and value of public health laboratories in protecting our nation's health. Washington, DC: Association of Public Health Laboratories, 2000).

Laboratories↗