CSwMR

3.4 Diagnostic Capacity of Laboratories
Diagnostic support is in many situations a critical step for proper care of patients.
Tables 3.4.1 and 3.4.2 show the laboratory diagnostic capacity with regard to basic
tests and advanced diagnosis, as well as the availability of diagnostic imaging equipment,
according to the type of facility, management authority, and region.
The SCSPA 2012–2013 revealed weaknesses in the capacity of both public and
private health facilities to perform basic and advanced laboratory diagnostic tests. Facilities
are generally capable of doing tests for the diagnosis of malaria and HIV (respectively 83
percent and 82 percent at the national level). On the other hand, only 17 percent of facilities
are capable of blood sugar testing and only 3 percent have an X-ray machine. Many of the
diagnostic tools are not generally available in hospitals. For example, diagnostic imaging
equipment is available in about one in three hospitals. It should also be noted that malaria
diagnostic testing was available in 53 percent of the surveyed health huts.
Table 3.4.1 Laboratory diagnostic capacity by facility type and managing authority
Among all facilities, the percentages with capacity to conduct basic and advanced laboratory diagnostic tests in the facility by facility type and
managing authority, Senegal SCSPA 2012–2013
Facility type
Managing authority
Laboratory tests
Hospital Health center Health post Public Private
Total
Health hut
Basic tests
Hemoglobin 64 53 5 10 20 11 NA
Blood glucose 17 39 15 17 20 17 NA
Malaria diagnostic test 70 91 83 88 60 83 53
Urine protein 57 35 20 23 24 23 NA
Urine glucose 53 37 20 24 21 23 NA
HIV diagnostic test 61 79 83 91 39 82 NA
DBS collection 29 38 1 6 6 6 NA
TB microscopy 30 51 1 6 8 7 NA
Syphilis rapid diagnostic test 12 5 2 3 4 3 NA
General microscopy 63 75 6 13 25 15 NA
Urine pregnancy test 54 42 20 24 24 24 NA
Liver or renal function test (ALT or
creatinine) 63 48 1 8 8 8 NA
Advanced diagnostic tests
Serum electrolytes 61 48 2 8 12 9 NA
Full blood count with differentials 61 48 2 8 12 9 NA
Blood typing and cross matching 32 9 1 2 7 3 NA
CD4 count 23 12 0 2 0 2 NA
Syphilis serology 5 8 0 1 0 1 NA
Gram stain 59 41 4 8 20 10 NA
Stool microscopy 55 58 5 9 23 12 NA
CSF/body fluid counts 47 53 6 10 19 12 NA
Equipment for diagnostic imaging
X-ray machine 36 10 1 3 4 3 NA
Ultrasonogram 38 15 3 3 17 6 NA
CT scan 29 9 0 2 4 3 NA
Number of facilities 17 30 317 302 62 364 74
NA = Not applicable
Note: The basic test indicators presented in this table comprise the diagnostic capacity domain for assessing general service readiness within the
health facility assessment methodology proposed by WHO and USAID (WHO 2012).
DBS = dried blood spot; CSF = cerebrospinal fluid; CT = computed tomography
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