Through the USAID-funded Tuberculosis Accelerated Response and Care (TB ARC) activity, CHS is committed to the goal of reducing Kenya’s TB burden.
In pursuit of this, CHS is in the process of purchasing 30 LED (light-emitting diode) microscopes to be distributed across various counties to improve TB diagnosis. The microscopes are accompanied by 30 UPS units, which will provide power back up to ensure continuity of testing procedures in the event of power outage. The LED microscopes are expected to be distributed across facilities in 20 counties namely: Kajiado, Turkana, Bungoma, Kwale, Siaya, Baringo, Bomet, Samburu, Nandi, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Meru, Nairobi, Uasin Gishu, Tana River, Garissa, Makueni, Moyale, Mombasa and Busia. This is based on the workload of 1-3 smears per day and is the second phase of LED roll out in the country. CHS will also undertake training of personnel and installation of equipment at the facilities once they have been distributed.
LED microscopes have shown exceptional reliability in TB diagnosis, are more accurate than conventional light microscopes and have proved to have operational, qualitative and cost advantages over the light microscopes currently in use in many diagnostic facilities.
In 2009, the World Health Organisation (WHO) assessed the efficacy of LED microscopy to establish accuracy of TB diagnosis. The findings indicated that the LED microscope’s level of accuracy was equivalent to that of international reference standards and thus recommended as a practical alternative to conventional light microscopy. LED microscopes have up to 10% higher sensitivity compared to light microscopes and hence produce more reliable diagnosis.
Smear microscopy remains the basis for TB diagnosis in developing countries and replacing the conventional light microscope with the LED microscope will improve TB case detection and speed up sputum examination.
Currently, 150 out of the 1,830 TB diagnostic facilities under the Ministry of Health are using the LED microscopes while the other facilities are still using light microscopes. These were distributed between 2012 and 2013 by the Ministry of Health under the TB program; in line with scaling up of diagnostics, improving sensitivity and the turnaround time for examination. The CHS led TB ARC activity and other partners including USAID, Global Fund and CDC among others plan to continuously roll out LED microscopes to all diagnostic facilities; thereby upgrading the quality of TB care at facility level. This will play a significant role in increasing the proportion of TB cases identified and ultimately, in reducing Kenya’s TB burden.
TB ARC seeks to continually expand access to quality-assured TB services in all Counties and for all forms of TB through the identification and implementation of evidence-based interventions that support and/or complement the activities of the National Tuberculosis Leprosy and Lung Diseases Unit (NTLD-Unit) and increase the proportion of TB cases identified and treated.
