Introduction of Second Line Probe Assay in Laboratory System in Ethiopia

Introduction of Second Line Probe Assay in Laboratory System in Ethiopia

Previously, Ethiopia used conventional methods for mycobacteria culture and drug susceptibility testing, which take 4-12 weeks to get results and require sequential procedures for the diagnosis. The recently introduced second-line probe assay (SL-LPA) delivers results in just 24-48 hours, a vast improvement over the conventional method. This technical highlight describes the collaboration between the Ethiopian Public Health Institute and the USAID-funded Challenge TB project to develop an implementation plan that encompassed practical training on SL-LPA for all TB culture laboratories by availing SL-LPA kits, conducting validation of SL-LPA in each culture lab, providing mentorship, and calibrating basic equipment.