Assessing the effect of decentralisation of laboratory diagnosis for drug-resistant tuberculosis in Kenya

SETTING: Drug susceptibility testing (DST) is recommended in Kenya to identify multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in persons registered for tuberculosis (TB) retreatment. DST is performed at a central laboratory with a two-step growth-based process and a regional laboratory with a simultaneous molecular- and growth-based process.OBJECTIVE: To compare proportions of retreatment cases who underwent DST and turnaround times for hospitals referring to the central vs. regional laboratory.DESIGN: Cases were persons registered for TB retreatment from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2013. Records of 11 hospitals and 7 hospitals referring patients to the regional and central laboratories, respectively, were reviewed.RESULTS: Respectively 238/432 (55%) and 88/355 (25%) cases from hospitals referring to the regional and central laboratories underwent DST. The mean time from case registration to receipt of DST results and initiation of MDR-TB treatment was quicker in hospitals referring to the regional laboratory. The time required for the transportation of specimens, specimen testing and receipt of DST results at hospitals was shorter for the regional laboratory (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Testing was faster and more complete at hospitals referring to the regional laboratory. A comprehensive review of MDR-TB detection in Kenya is required to increase the proportion of cases receiving DST.