LIMS Training-of-Trainers Sessions
APHL delivered training-of-trainers sessions on the LIMS system in 2007 for 116 laboratory staff and healthcare professionals from ten regional and zonal hospital. The trainings, which occurred over a two-week period at sites in Iringa and Musoma, utilized teach-back exercises to give the class experience in teaching before returning to their laboratories. Instructional materials included PowerPoint presentations, a facilitator’s guide, a user’s manual and paper-based strengthening tools. The trainings also provided participants with:
• A standard data collection form for LIMS input
• General laboratory QA/QC forms for equipment monitoring and specimen management
• Quarterly laboratory diagnostic and disease reporting forms.
Results and Next Steps
Twelve facilitators have developed the skills and knowledge to serve as trainers. As a result, Tanzania has the ability to train regional and zonal hospital laboratories with minimal assistance. Moving forward, APHL, CDC and the Ministry of Health will:
• Evaluate the trainings and continue improvements to the paper-based system for printing of standard specimen registers, quarterly reporting forms and specimen identification labels
• Train district laboratories using regional hospital teams
• Implement a LIMS system at the four pilot sites.