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1) Drug Store Personnel

Tuberculosis Unit (TU) is the administrative unit under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) which is responsible for conducting activities at the sub-district/ block level. 

Introduction

Cartridge-based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT) is an automated rapid molecular diagnostic test which detects targeted Deoxyribonucleic Acids (DNA) sequences of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) genome by Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) method.

To ensure smooth and timely distribution of anti-tuberculosis drugs within the state, store facilities at the district level in all the states are built as per the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) guidelines. These facilities under the programme are called District Drug stores (DDS).

The consumables required at a Cartridge-based Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (CBNAAT) laboratory include the following:

CBNAAT/ GeneXpert Dx System consisting of CBNAAT machine preloaded with assay software, Computer and the Barcode reader

Each state needs to have one fully operational State Drug Store (SDS) for every 5 crores of population.

In larger states/ difficult terrain, more than one SDS can be established as per National Tuberculosis (TB) Elimination Program (NTEP) guidelines.

It is responsible for effective management of medicines and other logistics and ensuring an uninterrupted supply of good quality 1st & 2nd line anti-TB medicines for adult and paediatric patients.

Structure and Human Resource

Under the National TB Elimination Programmme (NTEP), there are various stocking points at different levels which help in the storage and distribution of supplies to ensure their uninterrupted availability

Information Education and Communication (IEC) Materials

99 DOTS

99 DOTS is an IT-enabled ‘pill-in-hand’ adherence monitoring system implemented by the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) for all Drug-sensitive TB (DS-TB) patients on a daily regimen.

Mechanism of 99 DOTS

The National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) laboratory network is composed of National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) at the national level, at the state level Intermediate Reference Laboratories (IRLs) and Culture & Drug Susceptibility Testing (C&DST) laboratories and at the peripheral level Designated Microscopy Centres (DMCs).

Each of these laboratories is responsible for performing various functions at its own levels.