Twenty-five (25) tuberculosis (TB) culture laboratories all around the Philippines gathered at the Convectus 2018, a conference-workshop conducted by the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL) in Tagaytay City on November 26-29, 2018.

“‘Convectus’ is a Latin word meaning ‘to bring together to a place’,” explained Dr. Ma. Cecilia G. Ama, NTRL department head, in her welcome remarks.

Through this gathering, NTRL discussed updates, current situations and way forward with the participants; addressed their issues and concerns; and provided them with technical assistance on the analysis of laboratory performance indicators (LPIs).

These LPIs “…need to be regularly monitored and analyzed,” Catherine Ann Sacopon, NTRL staff and resource speaker, emphasized, “As laboratory personnel, we must all imbibe a culture of quality in our work.”

Aside from staff of the national TB culture laboratory network, representatives of National TB Control Program Laboratory Coordinators from varius Centers for Health Development and NTRL partners from NTP Management Office of the Department of Health, ACCESS TB project of the Philippine Business for Social Progress, and TB Innovations & Health Systems Strengthening project of Family Health International 360 also attended the event.

NTRL, as the laboratory arm of the National Tuberculosis  Program (NTP) oversees the national TB laboratory network which is currently composed of around 3000 laboratories, 28 of which are TB culture laboratories.

by Earl Christian Mantes, NTRL Science Research Specialist I