General Objectives

Performing clinical laboratory activities for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (DR TB) according to MSF, National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP), Provincial Tuberculosis Programme (PTP) protocols, security and hygiene measures to obtain results to determine the patient’s treatment.

Key Responsibilities:

•        According to medical prescription, preparing and performing clinical exams/tests with appropriate techniques and following MSF/NTP/PTP protocols and procedures.

This function includes, among others:

•        Taking blood, sputum, vaginal and urethral samples.

•        Centrifuging blood and urine samples.

•        Performing laboratory exams (serology, hematology, biochemistry, bacteriology or parasitological, according to context of the mission).

•        Ensuring proper reporting and registration of sample results in order to keep a written track of activities and give information to relevant persons, ensuring medical confidentiality.

•        Taking care, managing and organizing efficiently laboratory material/equipment.

•        Performing cleaning and minor maintenance for biomedical equipment used. Following user manual and protocols and alerting the line manager in case of malfunctioning of any devices. Maintaining a record of maintenance of laboratory equipment in coordination with biomedical guidelines.

•        Applying infection control, hygiene and safety protocols, doing daily cleaning/maintenance, sterilization, washing general glassware after procedures are done.

•        Ensuring proper sample waste disposal according to MSF protocols and the highest safety standards.

•        Supplying orders, doing stock management, storage conditions follow-up, keeping precise inventory.

•        Keeping organized data collection system of laboratory results and all information generated from the analysis.

•        Reporting all relevant information linked to the activities in the laboratory to the line manager, especially concerning loss/robbery/damage of laboratory equipment or medicines.

Specific Tasks:

•   Ensuring Extensively Drug Resistant (XDR) testing is performed for all new Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MTB) positive/rifampicin resistance detected patients, patients who are not responding to first line and second line TB medications, patients who revert from initial conversion on culture, and any other patients depending on guidance from clinicians.

•   Ensuring the collection of samples and safety precautions according to protocol, sample preparation, packing and transportation to reference laboratories.

•   Ensuring the monitoring of cold chain required for laboratory reagents, samples and kits in the clinic.

•   Ensuring the storage of inactivated sputum samples for all new patients at baseline for future use (deeplex, genome sequencing).

•   Ensuring timely follow up of culture and Drug Susceptibility Testing/DST results from the reference laboratories.