Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Packaging Specimen during the transportation of biological specimens for TB diagnosis, also known as Triple Layer Packaging, is as follows:

The Lab Technicians (LTs) at the Designated Microscopy Centres (DMCs) should be trained to carefully pack the sputum samples in the cold box to avoid spillage of the samples. Before packing, personal protection measures such as wearing hand gloves (double gloves preferred), goggles and masks are to be followed by the LTs to prevent contracting the infection.

SOP for Packaging Specimens during the Transportation of Biological Specimens for TB Diagnosis

The Healthcare Worker (HCW) needs to carefully explain how to collect a good quality sputum specimen. He/she needs to demonstrate how to bring up sputum from the chest, what a good sputum specimen looks like, and the quantity of sputum required.  

Characteristics of a Good Sputum Sample 

Steps to Ensure a Good Quality Sputum Sample

Presumptive Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) in Children

It occurs mostly in children who:

• Are contacts of adults with Multidrug-resistant (MDR)/ DR-TB
• Are lost to follow-up after initiating treatment
• Present with recurrence of disease after previous treatment
• Do not respond to treatment with first-line drugs
• Are Children Living with HIV (CLHIV).

To increase support for Tuberculosis (TB) patients coming from the private sector, the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) has affirmed that public health response to all TB patients notified from the private sector will be the responsibility of the public health system. ​

Patients support services like adherence support, drug susceptibility testing, comorbidity detection, recording treatment outcomes, and infection prevention measures are already being extended to patients in the private sector. ​

Existing tools to improve TB care services in the private sector, adopted by the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) are:

• Standards for Tuberculosis (TB) care in India
• Mandatory TB notification
• Use of NIKSHAY
• Ban on sero-diagnostics
• Amendments in H1 schedule

The learnings that guide the efforts to invoke support from the private sector and provide public services to its patients include the following: