Tuberculosis Laboratory

The tuberculosis laboratory was built in recent years in order to provide high quality data on tuberculosis for the region.

We currently support the Gabon National TB Control Programme (Programme National de Lutte Contre la Tuberculose, PNLT) by providing diagnostic services to hospitals and health institutions in Lambaréné. These include:

  1. • The Albert Schweitzer Hospital
  2. • The George Rawiri Regional Hospital
  3. • The “Centre de Traitement Ambulatoire (CTA)”, a clinic for voluntary HIV counselling, testing and treatment
  4. • The “Base d’Epidemiologie et de Lutte contre les Endémies (BELE no. 3)”

In addition, the lab processes samples for CERMEL research projects. See the Tuberculosis Research Group for details.

Diagnostics


  1. • Microscopy: Both by Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) and fluorescence (auramine) methods
  2. • Culture: Both by liquid (by Bactec MGIT 960) and solid (Lowenstein-Jensen, LJ) culture media.
  3. • Drug Sensitivity Testing (DST): By MGIT 960 and Hain Line probe Assay (to some 1st line drugs).
  4. • MTBC speciation: By Hain Line Probe Assay

Genotyping of all samples are done in collaboration with the National Reference Center of Tuberculosis in Borstel, Germany.

Staff

Jabar Pacome Agbo Achimi Abdul Supervisor of the Laboratory
Micheska Epola Dibamba Ndanga Biologist
Rebecca Moussounda Nurse Assistant
Arnault Rogue Mfoumbi Ibinda Biologist
Chester Mevyann Biologist
Christopher Ingrid Mebiame Biyogho Biologist