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2. Setting up a peripheral health laboratory 47
The laboratory should have:
— examination request forms that accompany the specimens;
— a register for recording details concerning the specimens and the results
obtained;
— monthly report forms.
Numbering the specimens (Fig. 2.60)
Give each specimen a number as soon as it is received.
Write this number immediately:
— on the request form
— on the specimen container (use a grease pencil)
— on every test-tube used for the specimen
— on every microscope slide used for the specimen.
This will prevent any mistakes.
Fig. 2.60 Numbering the specimens
Laboratory registers
Each numbered specimen should be recorded in a register for that type of specimen.
The following registers are suggested:
— haematology
— blood chemistry
— urine analysis
— CSF examination
— pregnancy tests
— bacteriology
— parasitology
— mycology
— serology (if the samples are few, incorporate in the bacteriology register;
otherwise keep a separate register)
— histopathology
— water analysis.
Tables 2.5–2.11 show examples of some of these registers, which should be modified
according to your requirements.
It is both helpful and time-saving to have rubber stamps for the most common tests
and results. For example:
● For parasitology: no. of ova or parasites seen.
● For bacteriology: no. of leukocytes
no. of erythrocytes
no. of epithelial cells
no. and type of organisms.
2.6.2 Preparation of monthly reports
At the end of every month the laboratory should submit a report to the director of
laboratory services at the central level or, if there is none, to the department of
public health at both the provincial and the central level. The report is valuable for
two main reasons.