Module 12

Managing supplies for a tuberculosis laboratory

performing culture

1

Learning objectives

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

list supplies required for culture;explain ordering of supplies;maintain proper records;explain use of the stock book;calculate supplies required;inspect and verify supplies delivered;explain storage of supplies.

2

Content outline

• Supply list for culture

• Record-keeping: stock book use and importance

• Calculation of supplies to order

• Receipt of supplies

• Storage and shelf-life of supplies

3

Supply management means…

Properly maintaining adequate supplies to ensure

uninterrupted service

4

Ordering and distribution of supplies

• What to order?

• From where?

• How much?

• How often?

• How to assess correctness of order?

• What is the lead time/reserve quantity?

5

Basic supplies required for culture

• Prepared media or components

• Prepared decontamination agents or components

• Disposable loops

• Transfer pipettes

• Screw-cap centrifuge tubes

• Cryotubes

6

Basic supplies required for culture for one specimen

LJ media 2

NaOH 0.003 litre

Sodium citrate 0.003 litre

NALC 0.003 litre

Na2HPO4 0.025 litre

KH2PO4 0.025 litre

Loops 1.2 (buffer quantity included)

Transfer pipettes 1.2 (buffer quantity included)

Centrifuge tubes 1.1 (buffer quantity included)

Cryotubes 1.1 (buffer quantity included)

7

Supply management involves…

• Performing a “stock count”

• Maintaining proper inventory records

• Determining how much to order

• Placing orders properly

• Inspecting and verifying supplies received

• Ensuring proper storage of stock

8

Stock book

9

Perform a stock count

• What is it?

Physically counting each item in the stock

• When is it done?Recommended at the end of each quarter

• Who does it?A designated person

All items must be accounted for. Everything that comes in and goes out must be recorded.

10

Quantities requested/issued

• Round up the calculated quantity to a quantity consistent with the unit of issue.

Example: if the calculated quantity of containers is 1300, round up to 2000 since the unit of issue is 1000 containers per bag (i.e. request 2 bags).

11

Scheme for calculating laboratory supplies

Number of cultures done in the region during the previous quarter (A): 1000

Item Quantity (litre)

needed perculture

ReagentQuantity

(grams orlitres)

per litre

Calculatedrequirementsfor 3 months

(litres orgrams)

Reservequantity

for 3 months

Stock onhand

Calculatedrequest

Actualrequest

(roundedup)

Orderunit

(B) (C) (D) = AxBxC (E) = D (F) (G) = D+E–F

LJ media 2 N/A 2000 2000 0 4000 40 Box of 100 tubes

NaOH 0.003 40 120 120 0 240 3 Bottle (100 g)

Sodium citrate 0.003 29 87 87 0 174 2 Bottle (100 g)

NALC 0.003 5 15 15 0 30 2 Bottle (25 g)

Na2HPO4 0.025 9.47 236.75 236.75 0 473.5 5 Bottle (100 g)

KH2PO4 0.025 9.07 226.75 226.75 0 453.5 5 Bottle (100 g)

Loops1.2 N/A 1200 1200 0 2400 3

Box of 1000Loops

Transfer pipettes 1.2 N/A 1200 1200 0 2400 3

Box of 1000Pipettes

Centrifuge tubes1.1 N/A 1100 1100 0 2200 22

Box of 100falcon tubes

Cryotubes1.1 N/A 1100 1100 0 2200 3

Box of 1000cryotubes

12

Total specimens examined in previous quarter (A)

• The value A is the number of cultures performed during the previous quarter.

13

Quantity needed per culture (B)

• The value B is the quantity of an item that is used to perform the culture of one specimen.

14

Reagent quantity (grams or litres) per litre (C)

• The value C is the reagent quantity (grams or litres) per litre.

15

Calculated requirements for a quarter (litres or grams) (D)

• The value D is the quantity required for one quarter (A) multiplied by the quantity needed per culture (B) multiplied by the reagent quantity (grams or litres) per litre (C).

• D = A x B x C

16

Buffer stock (E)

• The value E is the one-quarter consumption quantity of an item that must be kept as a reserve.

• Thus E is equal to D, the quantity of an item calculated for one quarter: D = E

17

Stock in unit (F)

• The value F is the stock in the unit on the last day of the quarter.

• F is determined by an actual physical count of existing stock (inventory).

18

Calculated quantity (G)

• The value G is the quantity required for one quarter (D) plus the quantity required for one quarter reserve (E) less the stock in unit (F).

• G = D + E – F

19

Scheme for calculating laboratory supplies

Number of cultures done in the region during the previous quarter (A): 1000

Item Quantity (litre)

needed perculture

ReagentQuantity

(grams orlitres)

per litre

Calculatedrequirementsfor 3 months

(litres orgrams)

Reservequantity

for 3 months

Stock onhand

Calculatedrequest

Actualrequest

(roundedup)

Orderunit

(B) (C) (D) = AxBxC (E) = D (F) (G) = D+E–F

LJ media 2 N/A 2000 2000 0 4000 40 Box of 100 tubes

NaOH 0.003 40 120 120 0 240 3 Bottle (100 g)

Sodium citrate 0.003 29 87 87 0 174 2 Bottle (100 g)

NALC 0.003 5 15 15 0 30 2 Bottle (25 g)

Na2HPO4 0.025 9.47 236.75 236.75 0 473.5 5 Bottle (100 g)

KH2PO4 0.025 9.07 226.75 226.75 0 453.5 5 Bottle (100 g)

Loops1.2 N/A 1200 1200 0 2400 3

Box of 1000loops

Transfer pipettes 1.2 N/A 1200 1200 0 2400 3

Box of 1000Pipettes

Centrifuge tubes1.1 N/A 1100 1100 0 2200 22

Box of 100falcon tubes

Cryotubes1.1 N/A 1100 1100 0 2200 3

Box of 1000cryotubes

20

Place orders properly

• This slide must be customized with site-specific information obtained beforehand

• EXPLAIN from the slide

21

Inspect and verify order deliveries

Upon receipt:

• Check contents of order received against request.

• Check integrity of supplies received.

• Check expiry date on boxes of each item.

• Date each item received.

• Store newly delivered items behind existing items.

• Store the first-expiring items behind the last-expiring items.

• Create or update records.

22

Ensure proper storage of inventory

• Keep in a clean, dry, well-ventilated, and organized storage area.

• Store according to suppliers’ instructions.

• Place items on shelves or in refrigerators.

• Store away from direct sunlight.

• Organize existing and new shipments by date received or prepared.

23

Under-stocking implies:

• Insufficient supplies

• Interruption of the testing process

• Undermining of patients’ faith in the health system

24

Over-stocking implies:

• Laboratory space may be overwhelmed by excessive stock, compromising safety and security.

• Reagents deteriorate, causing waste.

• Use of old reagents could compromise test results.

25

True and false exercise

1. Record and account for all items in the inventory.

2. Use the newly arrived items first.

3. Use of old reagents will not compromise test results.

26

Module review: take-home messages

Maintain an adequate inventory at all times to ensure uninterrupted service.

Do not let any item run out. Never order more than you require in the

next quarter.Record and account for all items in the

inventory.Always inspect a new shipment before

accepting it.

27

28

• What is supply management?

• Why is a physical stock count necessary?• Why is it important to maintain inventory

records?• How do you calculate supplies required?• Why must orders be inspected and verified?• Why must supplies be stored properly?

Self-assessment