This lack of impact on diagnosis and prescription practices may be caused by poor quality of diagnostics, stock outs of essential items, or clinicians' failure to trust the results of tests.
Laboratories in some countries stated that they planned to develop marker and recombinant vaccines and to maintain and upgrade diagnostic reagent stocks.
Although such research might still be relevant and the production and management of vaccine and diagnostic reagent stocks could be key components of contingency plans, modifications to laboratory activities and protocols are needed to meet compliance standards recently recommended by FAO and OIE (3 ).
All the stores offer the same diagnostic tests, stock the same range of products, and above their doors, there hangs the same innocuous green and orange sign which reads: "Tiens: Together We Share Health And Wealth".
JRL is a paid consultant for Athena Diagnostics, holds stock ownership in 23andMe and Ion Torrent Systems, and is a co-inventor on US and European patents related to molecular diagnostics.
JRL is a consultant for Athena Diagnostics, has stock ownership in 23andMe and Ion Torrent Systems, and is a co-inventor on multiple United States and European patents for DNA diagnostics.
Dr Lupski is a paid consultant for Athena Diagnostics, holds stock ownership in 23andMe, Inc. and Ion Torrent Systems, Inc., and is a co-inventor on multiple United States and European patents related to molecular diagnostics.
Due to the retrospective and observational design of this study, we were also unable to control for factors specific to (a) patients (e.g., adverse nutritional and psycho-social issues); (b) facilities (e.g., infection control measures); and, (c) programs [e.g., erratic pharmacy drug stocks and diagnostic rigor (e.g., low sensitivity and specificity of X-ray imaging)].
The SPH members can attend two initial 3-day trainings, one month apart and then receive regular visits by field leaders and stocks of rapid diagnostic test kits and artemisin containing treatment packs.
Health services need to focus on more feasible measures such as strengthening preparedness by stocking drugs and diagnostic materials, closely monitoring changes in malaria incidence, educating communities to seek prompt treatment, classifying areas according to their risk levels, and making contingency plans to rapidly deploy mobile treatment teams.
