Policies of an NTP Medical Technologist

In countries prone to outbreaks of tuberculosis (TB), such as the Philippines and Bangladesh, the World Health Organization has medical technologists perform tests using microscopy to detect certain illness and diseases. When a patient shows signs of TB, National TB Control Program (NTP) medical technologists are required to perform sputum tests.

Examination

• When you enter an outpatient facility or hospital with symptoms of a cough lasting two weeks, medical staff will determine whether to send you to a medical technologist for sputum testing. TB symptoms include fever, recurrent blood in sputum, chest pain and sudden rapid weight loss. Such symptoms automatically place you into the category of "TB symptomatic." Only an NTP medical technologist has authorization to perform sputum testing, which includes fixing and staining of sputum specimens, smear testing and reading.

Referral

• A patient categorized as TB symptomatic will be placed on a list in the master logbook. The physician-in-charge will refer the patient for direct sputum smear microscopy. The microscopy can only be performed by an NTP medical technologist.

Records

• When patients are admitted through an outpatient department for TB sputum testing, medical technologists must be on the premises to provide testing. The medical technologist has to document each possible TB case. The NTP medical technologist will keep these records in a medical logbook called a "Laboratory Register."