Abstract：
Health facilities which do not have capacity to diagnose tuberculosis (TB) depend on other facilities. This involves the courier of specimen such as sputum to diagnostic centers. This study was aimed at determining the turnaround time of sputum examinations for TB patients involving a courier system between the treatment and diagnostic centers.
The study tracked the sputum samples between TB treatment and diagnostic centers. Sputum samples for both diagnosis and follow-up reasons were purposely and serially tracked from the time they were sent to the laboratory to the time results were received at the treatment centers.
Of the 65 sputum samples tracked at Chazanga, results were available for 49 (75.4%), 6 (9.2%) were unaccounted for, 4 (6.2%) were rejected by the laboratory, 4 (6.2%) had \"error\" results, and 2 (3.1%) were declared \"missing\" because it took more than a month to return the results. The turnaround time ranged from 2 days to 18 days with an average of 5.8 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.5-7.1 days). At Kaunda Square, of the 49 samples tracked, results were available for 44 (89.8%), 2 (4.1%) were unaccounted for, 2 (4.1%) were rejected, and 1 (2.0%) was declared \"missing.\" The turnaround time ranged from 2 to 25 days with an average of 6.3 days (95% CI: 5.3-7.4 days).
The turnaround times of sputum examinations of the two treatment centers were long. The courier system should be closely monitored to determine if it is performing well because the system is still necessary for facilities without laboratories.
The study tracked the sputum samples between TB treatment and diagnostic centers. Sputum samples for both diagnosis and follow-up reasons were purposely and serially tracked from the time they were sent to the laboratory to the time results were received at the treatment centers.
Of the 65 sputum samples tracked at Chazanga, results were available for 49 (75.4%), 6 (9.2%) were unaccounted for, 4 (6.2%) were rejected by the laboratory, 4 (6.2%) had \"error\" results, and 2 (3.1%) were declared \"missing\" because it took more than a month to return the results. The turnaround time ranged from 2 days to 18 days with an average of 5.8 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.5-7.1 days). At Kaunda Square, of the 49 samples tracked, results were available for 44 (89.8%), 2 (4.1%) were unaccounted for, 2 (4.1%) were rejected, and 1 (2.0%) was declared \"missing.\" The turnaround time ranged from 2 to 25 days with an average of 6.3 days (95% CI: 5.3-7.4 days).
The turnaround times of sputum examinations of the two treatment centers were long. The courier system should be closely monitored to determine if it is performing well because the system is still necessary for facilities without laboratories.
摘要：
没有能力诊断结核病（TB）的卫生设施依赖于其他设施。这涉及将诸如痰之类的标本运送到诊断中心。这项研究旨在确定结核病患者痰检查的周转时间，该检查涉及治疗中心和诊断中心之间的快递系统。
这项研究追踪了结核病治疗和诊断中心之间的痰液样本。出于诊断和随访原因的痰液样本从送到实验室到治疗中心收到结果的时间都是有目的地和连续跟踪的。
在查赞加追踪的65份痰样本中,结果为49人(75.4%)，6人(9.2%)下落不明，4（6.2％）被实验室拒绝，4（6.2%）有“错误”结果，2（3.1％）被宣布为“失踪”，因为花了一个多月的时间才返回结果。周转时间为2天至18天，平均5.8天（95％置信区间[CI]：4.5-7.1天）。在Kaunda广场,在追踪的49个样本中，结果为44人(89.8%)，2人(4.1%)下落不明，2（4.1％）被拒绝，1（2.0%）被宣布为“失踪”。“周转时间为2至25天，平均6.3天（95％CI：5.3-7.4天）。
两个治疗中心的痰检周转时间较长。应密切监测快递系统，以确定其性能是否良好，因为该系统对于没有实验室的设施仍然是必要的。
这项研究追踪了结核病治疗和诊断中心之间的痰液样本。出于诊断和随访原因的痰液样本从送到实验室到治疗中心收到结果的时间都是有目的地和连续跟踪的。
在查赞加追踪的65份痰样本中,结果为49人(75.4%)，6人(9.2%)下落不明，4（6.2％）被实验室拒绝，4（6.2%）有“错误”结果，2（3.1％）被宣布为“失踪”，因为花了一个多月的时间才返回结果。周转时间为2天至18天，平均5.8天（95％置信区间[CI]：4.5-7.1天）。在Kaunda广场,在追踪的49个样本中，结果为44人(89.8%)，2人(4.1%)下落不明，2（4.1％）被拒绝，1（2.0%）被宣布为“失踪”。“周转时间为2至25天，平均6.3天（95％CI：5.3-7.4天）。
两个治疗中心的痰检周转时间较长。应密切监测快递系统，以确定其性能是否良好，因为该系统对于没有实验室的设施仍然是必要的。
