Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015 Nov-Dec;130(6):623-31.
doi: 10.1177/003335491513000612.

A Model of Shared Mycobacteriology Testing Services: Lessons Learned

Kara Mitchell  1 , Tanya Halse  1 , Donna Kohlerschmidt  1 , Toby Bennett  2 , Cynthia Vanner  2 , Ewa King  2 , Kimberlee Musser  1 , Vincent Escuyer  1
Affiliations

A Model of Shared Mycobacteriology Testing Services: Lessons Learned

Kara Mitchell et al. Public Health Rep. 2015 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Objective: The need for public health laboratories (PHLs) to prioritize resources has led to increased interest in sharing diagnostic services. To address this concept for tuberculosis (TB) testing, the New York State Department of Health Wadsworth Center and the Rhode Island State Health Laboratories assessed the feasibility of shared services for the detection and characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC).

Methods: We assessed multiple aspects of shared services including shipping, testing, reporting, and cost. Rhode Island State Health Laboratories shipped MTBC-positive specimens and isolates to Wadsworth Center. Average turnaround times were calculated and cost analysis was performed.

Results: Testing turnaround times were similar at both PHLs; however, the availability of conventional drug susceptibility testing (DST) results for Rhode Island primary specimens and isolates were extended by approximately four days of shipping time. An extended molecular testing panel was performed on every specimen submitted from Rhode Island State Health Laboratories to Wadsworth Center, and the total cost per specimen at Wadsworth Center was $177.12 less than at Rhode Island State Health Laboratories, plus shipping. Following a mid-study review, Wadsworth Center provided testing turnaround times for detection (same day), species determination of MTBC (same day), and molecular DST (2.5 days).

Conclusion: The collaboration between Wadsworth Center and Rhode Island State Health Laboratories to assess shared services of TB testing highlighted a successful model that may serve as a guideline for other PHLs. The provision of additional rapid testing at a lower cost demonstrated in this study could potentially improve patient management and result in significant cost and resource savings if used in similar models across the country.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure
Figure
Testing algorithm used for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex-positive specimens received at the New York State Department of Health Wadsworth Center from Rhode Island State Health Laboratories during phases 1 and 2 of the shared services collaboration, 2012–2013
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

  • The Use of a Shared Services Model for Mycobacteriology Testing: Lessons Learned.
    Stafford C, Atkinson-Dunn R, Buss SN, Dalton T, Gibson D, Johnston S, King E, Grace Lin SY, Mitchell KK, Murtaugh WA, Sease H, Southern TR, Tans-Kersten JL, Travanty EA, Triplett LR, Wroblewski K, Starks AM. Stafford C, et al. Public Health Rep. 2018 Jan/Feb;133(1):93-99. doi: 10.1177/0033354917743498. Epub 2017 Dec 19. Public Health Rep. 2018. PMID: 29258383 Free PMC article.

References

    1. Witt-Kushner J, Astles JR, Ridderhof JC, Martin RA, Wilcke B, Jr, Downes FP, et al. Core functions and capabilities of state public health laboratories: a report of the Association of Public Health Laboratories. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2002;51(RR-14):1–8. - PubMed
    1. Association of Public Health Laboratories and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US) Silver Springs (MD): APHL; 2012. A practical guide to assessing and planning implementation of public health laboratory service changes. Also available from: URL: http://www.aphl.org/lei [cited 2014 Jul 30]
    1. Ridderhof JC, Moulton AD, Ned RM, Nicholson JK, Chu MC, Becker SJ, et al. The Laboratory Efficiencies Initiative: partnership for building a sustainable national public health laboratory system. Public Health Rep. 2013;128(Suppl 2):20–33. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US) Atlanta: Department of Health and Human Services (US), CDC; 2014. Oct, Reported tuberculosis in the United States, 2013. Also available from: URL: http://www.cdc.gov/features/dstuberculosis [cited 2015 Jan 22]
    1. Rosenstock L, Silver GB, Helsing K, Evashwick C, Katz R, Klag M, et al. Confronting the public health workforce crisis: ASPH statement on the public health workforce. Public Health Rep. 2008;123:395–8. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources