5.3.2.3. Blood bank

Lab professionals / Blood Bank Specialists:

• Immediately confirm cases of notifiable disease that are considered in International Health Regulations Annex II (6.4.1.1), epidemic-prone diseases or cases as part of an outbreak to EpiU.
• Weekly reporting of confirmed cases of notifiable communicable diseases to EpiU diagnosed in the laboratory (6.4.1.1 and 6.4.1.2).
• Weekly reporting of confirmed cases of notifiable communicable diseases to external agencies as agreed upon with the Epidemiology Unit.
• Weekly reporting of confirmed cases of priority communicable diseases to EpiU, where samples are sent outside the country and results received by the laboratory.
• Immediate reporting of errors in diagnosis of any case previously notified.
• Weekly reporting to EpiU including a line list of cases with demographic information of case, diagnosis, type of diagnostic test and contact information of case.
• Monthly report for Influenza, SARS Cov2 and other acute viral respiratory infections, including genomic surveillance (referring samples outside) from Sentinel Sites to EpiU and Infectious Diseases Unit.
• Monthly report of identified antimicrobial resistance patterns and indicators to the hospital services and EpiU.
• Implementation of lab techniques that satisfy the needs of the medical services and surveillance in close coordination with MOH. (See lab manuals in bibliography).
• Provide the guidelines and SOP for sample collection and transport related to syndromic Surveillance and possible etiologies for communicable diseases, water and food or other chemical agents.
• Training new staff in the collection of samples
• Providing feedback for sample quality to HC/Hospital sending it
• Ensuring adherence to international norms of transport and shipping when sending samples to labs outside of the country.
• As a member of the outbreak investigation team, in the event of an outbreak, ensure proper sample collection, preservation, and transport, and confirm the etiologic or causative agent or request international technical support.