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Turnaround Time (TaT): Percent of Specimens Tested and Results Reported to the Referring Facility (or Provider) within Specified Target Timeframe

References in the content below refer to the PBMEF Guide.

Definitions

Percent of specimens tested at laboratories using a WHO-recommended rapid diagnostic (WRD) test and with results reported back to the referring facility or provider within specified target timeframe during the reporting period. The timeframe should align with the National TB Program (NTP) standard for target turnaround times (TaTs) for specimen collection, submission, testing and reporting, which may vary from country to country.

Calculation: (Numerator/Denominator) x 100

Numerator

Number of specimens tested using a WRD with results reported to the referring facility (or provider) during the reporting period within specified target timeframe

Denominator

Number of specimens tested using a WRD with results reported to the referring facility (or provider) during the reporting period
Ref #
TAT_RPRT
(Previously DT-32)
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
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.

This laboratory TAT is the time from when a sample is received at the laboratory to when the results are reported to the clinician. As countries implement efforts to improve TB diagnosis and treatment and close the gap between notified and estimated TB cases, 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 reporting of test results for specimens after they are processed in the laboratory.

This is important to detect TB accurately and rapidly using new diagnostics and to increase the percentage of cases confirmed bacteriologically by scaling up the use of recommended diagnostics that are more sensitive than smear microscopy.

Early detection of TB is critical to achieving desirable treatment outcomes and interrupting the chain of transmission in the community. Timely reporting of test results after specimens are collected, submitted, and processed using a molecular WHO-recommended rapid diagnostic (mWRD) and reducing the time to TB diagnosis reflects multiple processes. These include availability and access to adequate bacteriological diagnostic services (trained staff, equipment, etc.), quality of laboratory testing, adherence to TB guidelines, functional sample transport system, and communication systems to ensure that the results are reported to the provider so that they can make a treatment decision and the person may start the appropriate regimen as quickly as possible. These systems may include connectivity solutions to facilitate reporting.

By measuring this indicator, countries can track the efficiency of communication between laboratories and providers and identify bottlenecks to fast TaT. 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.