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Turnaround Time (TaT): Percent of Specimens Submitted to a Laboratory within Specified Target Timeframe

References in the content below refer to the PBMEF Guide.

Definitions

Percent of specimens submitted to a laboratory for WHO-recommended rapid diagnostic (WRD) testing within a specified target turnaround time (TaT) from collection to lab submission during the reporting period. The specified TaT should align with the National TB Program (NTP) standard for target TaTs for specimen collection, submission, testing, and reporting, which may vary from country to country.

Calculation: (Numerator/Denominator) x 100

Numerator

Number of specimens submitted to a laboratory for WRD testing within a specified TaT for time from collection to submission

Denominator

Total number of specimens submitted to a laboratory for WRD testing during the reporting period
Ref #
TAT_SUBMIT
(Previously DT-30)
Tier Level
Project Level Indicators
Category
Reach
Type
Output
Unit of Measure
Percent of specimens
Data Type
Percentage
Disaggregations
Type of Specimen
Reporting Level
National, subnational, project
Reporting Frequency
Quarterly, monthly

The data sources for this indicator may vary country to country. In some settings, data will be found in basic management unit TB registers, laboratory registers, or electronic management systems at the health facility and district level.

TaT acts as a quality indicator to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the testing process. As countries intensify efforts to improve TB diagnosis and treatment and close the gap between the number of people with TB notified and the number estimated, the number of people with notified TB that are bacteriologically confirmed needs to be monitored to ensure that people are correctly diagnosed and started on the most effective treatment regimen as early as possible. This indicator measures a program’s capacity for timely submission of specimens to the laboratory for WRD testing during the reporting period. This indicator is meant to measure the timeliness of specimen submission for diagnostic specimens only.

Early detection of TB is critical to achieving desirable treatment outcomes and interrupting the chain of transmission in the community. Timely specimen collection and submission to a laboratory using a molecular WHO-recommended rapid diagnostic (mWRD) and reducing the time to TB diagnosis reflects multiple processes, including availability and access to adequate bacteriological diagnostic services (trained staff, equipment, etc.), quality of laboratory testing, and adherence to TB guidelines and functional sample transport system. By measuring this indicator, countries can track the efficiency of sample collection and submission, including sample transport systems. Additionally, this indicator can be compared against national and global standards or targets as a proxy for measuring laboratory performance or capacity within a country.

Example charts/graphs:

  • Trends over time comparisons
  • Infographics demonstrating TaTs
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Changelog

March, 2024: Updated the name, definition, and other information based on the Interim PBMEF Tuberculosis Indicator Compendium.