Standard operating procedures for laboratory services at integrated health service centers

This describes the operating procedures for blood collection, rapid HIV testing and laboratory diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This also describes the procedures for quality assurance of testing and laboratory safety in an IHS laboratory. Standard operating procedures for three rapid HIV testing methods have been described. The three rapid HIV tests include Determine-HIV 1/2, Unigold HIV and SD Bioline-HIV 1/2. Similarly, standard operating procedures for RPR test, TPPA test, Gram staining, Wet mount and KOH mount have been described. Testing procedures for RPR test have been described based on BD Macro-view RPR card test and testing procedures for TPPA test have been described based on Serodia TPPA test. This SOP will be provided to all IHS laboratories. A copy of this SOP should be kept at all times at all IHS laboratories. Laboratory technicians and laboratory assistants working in an IHS laboratory should be familiar with the procedures described in this SOP. Procedures described in this SOP should be followed at all times while performing all laboratory activities. (Author abstract)