1. Koror, Republic of Palau
57th PIHOA Executive
Board Meeting
9-13 March 2015
Koror, Republic of Palau
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

2. AUL Association of US-Affiliated Pacific Island Laboratories (AUL)
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

3. Overview of the USAPI Laboratories
PAL
ASA
THC
CHK
ASA
LBJTMC
CLIA-regulated
PIHOA Regional Lab Initiative
PNI
CNMI
CLIA-waived
Association of USAPI Labs
KOS
GPHL
Non-regulated
YAP
EBE
MAJ
All (except GPHL) provide both public health & clinical lab services

4. Vision The vision of Association of US-Affiliated Pacific Island Laboratories (AUL) is to provide support and resources to the laboratories in the USAPI region ensuring delivery of quality assured laboratory testing services that impact the health and welfare of the people in the region
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

5. Mission Statement The mission of Association of US-Affiliated Pacific Island Laboratories (AUL) is defined as: The AUL is organized as a unified voice to advocate for support in addressing the needs and challenges of the medical laboratories and promote the value of our profession in the USAPI.
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

6. STRENGTHS Commitment and dedication of the members to sustain the AUL.
Desire of AUL members to implement LQMS
Collaboration among AUL members despite geographical and cultural diversity
Established and effective specimen transport system
Effective communication network
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

7. Major Goals that Support the Objectives
Strengthen lab network in the USAPI countries through information sharing and open communication
Objective
Sustain quarterly telephone conferences
Methods
The AUL president initiates scheduling of teleconference with the AUL members and the PIHOA regional laboratory coordinator.
The PIHOA regional laboratory coordinator confirms schedule with AUL members and participants.
Outcomes
The AUL meeting are held quarterly and minutes for each meeting are compiled by the AUL secretary and president.
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

8. Sustain biennial AUL meeting
Objective
Sustain biennial AUL meeting
Methods
The AUL membership creates proposal for continued support to sustain AUL biennial meeting to the PIHOA board.
Outcomes
Depending on availability of funding, biennial meetings are convened.
Promote excellence in laboratory services through collaboration and implementation of laboratory quality management system criteria
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

9. Objective
Develop jurisdictional national laboratory policies and plans by December 2014
Methods:
PIHOA - collect and share samples of national laboratory policies and plans by September 30, 2013
Review existing national laboratory policies by AUL members by March 2014.
Draft/update policies by June 2014.
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

10. Endorsement of drafted national laboratory policies and plans by December 2015
Methods:
Individual jurisdictions present the national laboratory policy and plan to their Ministry of Health by January 2015
Presentation of national laboratory policies and plans to the PIHOA Board of Directors by end of
Outcome: Endorsed national laboratory policy and plan in each USAPI
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

11. Implement LQMS in the USAPI laboratories Methods:
Objective
Implement LQMS in the USAPI laboratories
Methods:
Development of quality laboratory manual for each USAPI laboratory by June 2015
PIHOA will share with USAPI laboratories the CLSI-WHO-CDC LQMS training toolkit by October 30, 2013
USAPI laboratory managers conduct onsite LQMS training for all laboratory staff by December 2014
Outcome:
Drafted laboratory quality manual
Completed LQMS training on the 12 QSE
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

12. Maintain NCD surveillance activities Methods
Objective
Maintain NCD surveillance activities
Methods
Compile NCD-related laboratory testing data for sharing with jurisdictional partners monthly
Submit compiled data to PIHOA quarterly
Outcomes
Updated NCD-related laboratory testing statistics shared with NCD stakeholders
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

13. Strengthen jurisdictional networking activities during outbreak events
Methods
Review and update existing laboratory response plans with PHEP program and hospital by March 2014
Implement laboratory protocol during outbreak response by June 2014
Outcomes
Documented protocol
Developed checklist for lab response to outbreak
Evaluation report from checklist
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

14. WEAKNESS Lack of jurisdictional resources (human and financial)
If the HR & financial management can confirm a budget for laboratory >> lab management plan & function accordingly.
Challenging transportation issues
This issue is inevitable>> inconsistency in shipping.
Communication gaps between laboratory and departments/ministries of health management
If the PIHOA board can communicate with the hospital management and the Ministry of Health regarding the AUL request>>> we need a feedback on the negotiation developments to alert us on the follow ups that we need to do.
Low salaries and incentives for trained laboratory professionals
All laboratory jurisdictions need to develop a career ladder >> liaise with HR in terms of salary grading and incentives and get it endorsed>> PIHOA board needs to be acknowledged.
Jurisdictional laws that impede laboratory operations (e.g. procurement laws)
Different jurisdictions have different procurement operations and laws. AUL need to be acknowledged about these differences and address the issue with the PIHOA board >> influence change in the procurement laws to ease laboratory operations.
Retention of qualified laboratory professionals
Development of a bond agreement should be initiated before staff goes off for a training programme [e.g.. BMLS ] to retain them>>> lab management should cite the bond agreement before succession planning for continuous staff training.
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

15. OPPORTUNITIES
Technical assistance and financial support from PIHOA, APHL, CDC, CLSI, SPC, WHO, PPTC
Available training opportunities in LQMS and other laboratory-related subjects
Access to professional development opportunities – WHO-POHLN/PPTC
PPTC –administered EQA
Access PACNET-lab
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

16. How can PIHOA assist the AUL in:
Consistent support in maintaining its capabilities and strength
Resolving its weaknesses and be an influential mediator of negotiations with the upper hierarchy of leadership in the jurisdictions.
Stepping up prior opportunities in terms of educational development, technical assistance and financial support.
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

17. AUL GUAM MEETING 2015 AUL need do know:
How Guam Public Health Laboratory [GPHL] can assist AUL members in terms of testing capacity and capabilities?
How GPHL can assist the AUL members in professional development?
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

18. Endorsement of our NCD tests by the AUL members
PIHOA board to cite and endorse that ALL jurisdictions should have these tests available.
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

19. LABORATORY COURSES/CERTIFICATION
Any completion of a course or certification [PPTC Diploma MLT, BMLS, ASCP, AMT] needs to be recognized and incentives provided accordingly.
PIHOA can assist in dialogue to the upper hierarchy of management and leadership if this could be put in place.
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

20. LABORATORY ATTACHMENT
Training and off island laboratory attachment is very vital and beneficial for laboratory staff.
Senior laboratory staff are recommended for
this attachments. Upon completion, they
should implement development and ‘train the
trainer’ in their relevant lab departments. [Capacity Building]
PIHOA/SPC can assist in negotiating staff attachments in the recommended laboratory through Laboratory Management and Ministry of Health and having a MOU in place for this important activity of development.
Also if PIHOA can identify certain funding organizations to cater for the attachments.
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

21. TRAINING
Continuous short term training/refresher training to be initiated by all the jurisdictions for their laboratory staff.
PIHOA can identify funding organization who can partially fund this short term training programme together with the Hospital/ MOH of each jurisdiction.
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

22. Career ladders need to be established by individual laboratories.
All professional development activities need to be acknowledged by the respective jurisdictions and incentives provided accordingly.
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

23. COMMON SUCCESSESS Improved Turn Around Time [TAT] of test results.
Provision of new testing analyzers.
Staff upgrade
> PPTC Diploma MLT graduates
> BMLS graduates
CONSISTENCY NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED!!!!!
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

24. COMMON CHALLENGES Shipping costs
MOU for shipping for outbreak prone diseases. Suggest using PIHOA revolving fund where each lab submits $2K for shipping…rather than trying to reimburse after the fact.
Reagent shortage
Depending on transportation route and proximity of geographical location; island jurisdictions can assist relieve reagent shortage, therefore, communication and networking is very important.
Lack of qualified staff
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

25. BIENNIAL AUL
Funding support required to sustain biannual meetings, conference calls and training support.
PIHOA secretariat can’t commit to providing funds but will work with APHL to try to secure these funds.
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

26. Short term laboratory attachments.
Overall if PIHOA can assist AUL by identifying funding organizations for the following
Short term laboratory attachments.
Short term training offered by educational institutions.
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

27. Overall if PIHOA can assist AUL in negotiating the following with the respective MOH:
Any completion of a course, training or certification [PPTC Diploma MLT, BMLS, ASCP, AMT] needs to be recognized and incentives provided accordingly.
Attachment of laboratory staff in major laboratories of their choice and convenience through establishment of a MOU.
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu

28. AUL recommendation: Face to face meeting is more informative, interactive and productive. Issues are deliberated, resolution timelines are confirmed and updates of feedback from PIHOA , APHL, CDC and SPC is consistently delivered. Recommend that the AUL meeting is held annually with the above organizations to consistently follow through with our jurisdictional developments, issues and resolutions.
12/7/2018
Manasa Mainaqelelevu