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August 2004
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August 2004
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The 2nd LabNet Technical Working Body (TWB) Meeting took place at SPC headquarters in Noumea, New Caledonia, on 1 June 2004. This meeting preceded the PPHSN-CB meeting, held the following day (see CB report). This time, TWB representatives from the Pasteur Institute of New Caledonia (IPNC), WHO and SPC were joined by laboratory professionals from two other Pacific Island countries: Dr Joe Koroivueta from Fiji Islands and Mr Andrew Darcy from Solomon Islands. As at the first TWB meeting, the TWB members discussed a number of issues, and prepared a summary of their discussions for the CB meeting the following day. The main points of the discussions are presented below. > PIHOA initiatives in the North Pacific: TWB members reviewed the strengthening of LabNet in the North Pacific, carried out by the Pacific Island Health Officers Association (PIHOA) with the support of US Bioterrorism funds. The work that has been done includes:
> Laboratory assessments: As well as the North Pacific laboratory assessments noted above, TWB members received assessments of other laboratories:
> Links with Australian and New Zealand public health laboratory networks > Role of Pacific Paramedical Training Centre (PPTC): Training of laboratory workers, support for Quality Management system development, etc. > Support from Asian Development Bank (ADB) RETA 6108: The planned recruitment of a laboratory specialist to work at SPC for 5–6 months in collaboration with WHO and PPTC. > Reviews of LabNet laboratory level (L1, L2 and L3) diagnostic capacities in regard to PPSHN target diseases, carried out in 1999 and 2003 > Review of available diagnostic tests for PPHSN target diseases > Other future or existing LabNet related projects: Fiji School of Medicine’s Pacific Dengue Proposal; Letter of Intent (LOI) from Mataika House to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding capacity building for national influenza centres; establishment of a Regional Measles Laboratory Network supporting the Regional Measles Elimination Programme and modelled on the laboratory support for polio eradication. > PPHSN laboratory guidelines: To be completed and published together with the rest of the PPHSN guidelines before the March 2005 Ministers and Directors of Health Meeting. > SOP, QA and QC: Standard Operation Procedures (SOP), Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) to be developed individually by the laboratories, and general SOP and QC procedures to be prepared regionally, for the PPHSN target diseases. > Stockpiles and funding: TWB members agreed that the planned revolving fund could be utilised for rapid procurement of diagnostic kits and a stockpile of consumables. > Specimen referrals: TWB members recognised that this is a recurring problem and that a number of actions need to be taken in this area:
> LabNet “instructions for use”: Clear instructions regarding specimen referrals to Reference Laboratories should be disseminated, and also included in the proposed PPHSN laboratory guidelines. It was also suggested that the instructions be included in a directory of PPHSN resources (see CB report). > Training needs and opportunities: The TWB members listed current and possible laboratory training opportunities: training opportunities already exist through the PPTC, the Fiji School of Medicine, the Palau Area Health Education Centre, the University of Samoa and the Pacific Open Learning Health Network; exchange schemes could be organised between L1 and L2, L1 and L3, and L2 and L3 laboratories.
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