Title Time-and-motion tool for the assessment of working time in tuberculosis laboratories: a multicentre study /
Authors Mathys, V ; Roycroft, E ; Raftery, P ; Groenheit, R ; Folkvardsen, D. B ; Homorodean, D ; Vasiliauskienė, Edita ; Vasiliauskaitė, Laima ; Kodmon C., C ; Werf, M. J. van der ; Drobniewski, F ; Nikolayevskyy, V
DOI 10.5588/ijtld.17.0564
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Is Part of International journal of tuberculosis and lung disease.. Paris : International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. 2018, vol. 22, iss. 4, p. 444-451.. ISSN 1027-3719. eISSN 1815-7920
Keywords [eng] hands-on time ; laboratory diagnosis ; workload
Abstract [eng] SETTING: Implementation of novel diagnostic assays in tuberculosis (TB) laboratory diagnosis requires effective management of time and resources. OBJECTIVE: To further develop and assess at multiple centres a time-and-motion (T&M) tool as an objective means for recording the actual time spent on running laboratory assays. DESIGN: Multicentre prospective study conducted in six European Union (EU) reference TB laboratories. RESULTS: A total of 1060 specimens were tested using four laboratory assays. The number of specimens per batch varied from one to 60; a total of 64 recordings were performed. Theoretical hands-on times per specimen (TTPS) in h:min:s for Xpert® MTB/RIF, mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable number of tandem repeats genotyping, Ziehl-Neelsen staining and manual fluorescence microscopy were respectively 00:33:02 ± 00:12:32, 00:13:34 ± 00:03:11, 00:09:54 ± 00:00:53 and 00:06:23 ± 00:01:36. Variations between laboratories were predominantly linked to the time spent on reporting and administrative procedures. Processing specimens in batches could help save time in highly automated assays (e.g., line-probe) (TTPS 00:14:00 vs. 00:09:45 for batches comprising 7 and 31 specimens, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The T&M tool can be considered a universal and objective methodology contributing to workload assessment in TB diagnostic laboratories. Comparison of workload between laboratories could help laboratory managers justify their resource and personnel needs for the implementation of novel, time-saving, cost-effective technologies, as well as identify areas for improvement.
Published Paris : International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
Type Journal article
Language English
Publication date 2018