SIP

Subject Title: Microbiology
Name of Test: VDRL

Hello guys! Hope all of you are enjoying your SIP =)


For the first three days, I was attached to the Microbiology lab. I will be sharing with you about VDRL test which I was allowed to perform on urgent and routine specimens over the three days.

Test: Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL)


Principle:

• VDRL is a screening test for syphilis which is a Sexually-Transmitted Disease.
• Syphilis is caused by Treponema pallidum which is from the spirochetes group which consists of the spiral and motile bacteria.
• Reagin antibodies are produced when one is infected with syphilis. Reagin antibody is a mixture of IgM and IgG antibodies.
• This test uses nontreponemal antigens which are extracted from normal mammalian tissues. Lecithin and cholesterol are usually added to enhance the reaction.
• The reagent contains carbon particle cardiolipin antigens (extracted from beef heart) which will bind to the reagin antibodies causing visible clumping.
  

Materials:

1. Cards with 10 circles measuring 18mm






Retrieved June 29,2008, from http://www.bd.com/ds/productCenter/DT-MacroVueComponents.asp





2. Plastic dispensing tubes (Dispenstirs)







Retrieved June 29, 2008, from http://www.bd.com/ds/productCenter/DT-MacroVueComponents.asp

3. Reagent
4. Patient's Serum
5. Rotator











Retrieved June 29, 2008, from http://www.bd.com/ds/productCenter/DT-MacroVueComponents.asp






Method:




1. Using the dispensing tubes, dispense 1 drop of patient's serum onto the one of the 18mm circles. Since there are 10 such circles on one card, the test can be done on 10 patients' serum at one go.

2. Spread the patient's serum using the flat part of the tubes as shown in the picture, making sure the serum does not flow out of the circle.



3. Dispense 1 free falling drop of reagent onto the serum.



4. Bend the card downwards using both of your hands to prevent the serum from entering into another circle when the card is being rotated.


5. Place the card on the rotator which rotates at 100 rpm for 8 minutes.


6. Read the results macroscopically by rotating and tilting the card 3-4 times in a to-and-fro motions





Results:








Retrieved 29 June, 2008 from http://www.bmb.leeds.ac.uk/mbiology/ug/ugteach/dental/tutorials/std/vdrlexplain.html

Upper left circle: results are reported as non-reactive as there is no clumping
Upper and lower right circles: results are reported as reactive as there is visible clumping

Note:

• Once, when the supervisor was performing the test, he got a reactive specimen. After which, he did serial dilution to determine the antibody titre.
• Both positive and negative control must be carried out using the control solutions which are available with the kit. This is to confirm that the reagent is working.

Reference:

1. http://www.bd.com/ds/technicalCenter/clsi/clsi-RPR.pdf

2.http://www.bmb.leeds.ac.uk/mbiology/ug/ugteach/dental/tutorials/std/vdrlexplain.html

3.http://www.bd.com/ds/productCenter/DT-MacroVueComponents.asp

2. Geo. F. Brooks., Karen C. Carroll., Janet S. Butel., & Stephen A. Morse. (2007). Medical Microbiology. USA: The McGraw-Hill Companies,Inc.

Name: Nur Farhana Binte Ramlan

Admin No: 0604834B

Laboratory Management and Quality Assurance

Name: Sutiana Bte Kamis

Subject Title: Laboratory Management and Quality Assurance

Topic: Organization or regulatory bodies that regulate the operations of clinical laboratories in Singapore

SPRING Singapore is the national standard authority that is responsible for the standardization of Singapore’s industry activities. The organization is the member body of the International Organisation of Standardization (ISO).1, 2

SPRING Singapore helps to align Singapore standards with international standards.They are guided by the national Standard Council which oversees the nation standardization programme in key industry sectors including medical technology.1,3

Semi-automated and automated instruments are widely used in clinical laboratories especially in Clinical Chemistry. Hence the use of ISO ensures the accuracy of the laboratories operations thus lead to good quality results.

1. National Standard Body (2007). Retrieved 16 June, 2008, from Spring Singapore. Website: http://www.spring.gov.sg/Content/WebPageleft.aspx?id=e6ff85fa-
58ad-4dd3-b307-92efe370d03c

2. International Standards Bodies/Regional Standards & Conformance Fora (2007). Retrieved 16 June, 2008, from Spring Singapore. Website: http://www.standards.org.sg/AboutUs.cfm?id=AU1001

3. The Singapore Standard Programme (2007). Retrieved 16 June, 2008, from Spring Singapore. Website: http://www.standards.org.sg/

Laboratory Management and Quality Assurance

Name: Nurdyana Binte Abdul Rahman

Subject Title: Laboratory Management and Quality Assurance

Topic: Organization or regulatory bodies that regulate the operations of clinical laboratories in Singapore

Ministry of Health(MOH) is one of the regulatory bodies operations of clinical laboratories in Singapore. It had come up with more than 20 Acts which regulate public health and safety1. This would include the healthcare profession, healthcare practices or establishment as well as charges if terms and conditions are violated1. For instance, the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act serves in providing for the control, licensing and inspection of private hospitals, medical clinics, clinical laboratories and healthcare establishments, and for purposes connected with any form of medical practices2. An example would be the Department of Laboratory Medicine of Tan Tock Seng hospital is licensed under MOH and CAP3.

1. Legislation. (2007). Retrieved 16 June, 2008, from: http://www.moh.gov.sg/mohcorp/legislations.aspx?id=214

2. Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act. (2008). Retrieved 16 June, 2008, from: http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/non_version/cgi-bin/cgi_retrieve.pl?actno=REVED-248&doctitle=PRIVATE+HOSPITALS+AND+MEDICAL+CLINICS+ACT%0A&date=latest&method=part&sl=1

3. Clinical Specialties. (2006). Retrieved 16 June, 2008, from: http://www.ttsh.com.sg/new/clinicalspecial/laboratory.php

Laboratory Management and Quality Assurance

Name: Nurathirah Md Sharoni

Subject Title: Laboratory Management and Quality Assurance

Topic: Organization or regulatory bodies that regulate the operations of clinical laboratories in Singapore

• WSH (Workplace Safety and Health) Council collaborates with MOM. It is accountable for; enhancing capabilities of industry to improve WSH, encouraging safety and health at work, acknowledge companies with good WSH records, and setting acceptable WSH practices. 1

• It ensures that workers are aware about safety and health hazards in labs. Subsequently, appropriate actions are made to reduce the risks. 2

• It provides health and environmental surveillance as exposure to toxic substances could lead to occupational diseases. 3

• It ensures that reports of incidents are made when there are workplace accidents, dangerous occurrence (eg. explosion in lab) or occupational diseases (eg. toxic hepatitis). 4

1. About WSHCouncil. (2008). Retrieved June 13, 2008, from: http://www.wshc.gov.sg/about_us.html

2. Risk Management (2008). Retrieved June 14, 2008, from: http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal/en/communities/workplace_safety_and_health/maintaining_a_safe_workplace/occupation_safety/risk_management.html#reg

3. Safety and Health Management. (2008). Retrieved June 15, 2008, from: http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal/en/communities/workplace_safety_and_health/maintaining_a_safe_workplace/health_and_environmental.html

4. Incident Report. (2008) Retrieved June 15, 2008, from: http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal/en/communities/workplace_safety_and_health/maintaining_a_safe_workplace/report_incident/What_is_an_Incident_Report.html

Laboratory Management and Quality Assurance

Name: Nur Farhana Binte Ramlan

Subject Title: Laboratory Management and Quality Assurance

Topic: Organization or regulatory bodies that regulate the operations of clinical laboratories in Singapore

• National Environmnet Agency (NEA) is responsible for implementing environmental policies to ensure a good living environment for Singaporeans1.
• NEA regulates the disposal of biohazardous wastes from clinical laboratories.
• NEA guidelines for biohazardous wastes disposal follow the guidelines from World Health Organisation 2.
• One of the general guidelines is to separate the biohazardous wastes into colour-coded disposal bags 3.
• It is a requirement for the clinical laboratories or hospitals to dispose of their biohazardous wastes by licensed contractors 3 which are:
  1. Cramoil Singapore Pte Ltd
  2. SembCorp Environmental Management Pte Ltd

1. About NEA. (2002). Retrieved June 14, 2008, from: http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/category_sub.asp?cid=2

2.Advisory for Workers of Biohazardous Waste Companies. (2002). Retrieved June 14, 2008 from: http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/article.asp?pid=2166

3.Toxic Wastes Control. (2002). Retrieved June 14, 2008, from: http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/article.asp?pid=1531#CONTROL_OF_BIOHAZARDOUS_WASTES

Laboratory Management and Quality Assurance

Name: Hardina Binte Hamzah

Subject title: Laboratory Management and Quality Assurance

Topic: Organization or regulatory bodies that regulate the operations of clinical laboratories in Singapore

Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is one of the regulatory bodies that regulate clinical laboratories’ operations. Centre for Transfusion medicine (CTM) is the one of the professional centres of HSA1. CTM controls the operation of the blood bank laboratory. CTM assists in guiding blood usage policies2, blood transfusion protocols2 and blood product safety guidelines2 of various hospitals. CTM provides laboratory with clinical support such as guidance on blood utilization2, blood grouping discrepancy2 and cross-matching problem2. There is a need for HSA to regulate the operations because it is to attain quality and excellence of services1 and, blood and blood products supplied1.


1. (2007). About Centre for Transfusion Medicine. Retrieved June 13, 2008, from Health Sciences Authority. Website: http://www.hsa.gov.sg/publish/hsaportal/en/health_services/about_ctm.html

2. (2007). Clinical Services. Retrieved June 13, 2008, from Health Sciences Authority. Website: http://www.hsa.gov.sg/publish/hsaportal/en/health_services/transfusion_medicine/clinical_services.html

*The number for citation cannot be changed into super subscript even though cut & paste from Microsoft Word. Hence, the number for citation is in red and in smallest font.