Longer lead time of tuberculosis laboratory commodities in Amhara region, Ethiopia

Abstract Objective To evaluate the lead time of tuberculosis (TB) laboratory commodities in Amhara region. Methods A cross sectional study was carried out in Amhara region from April 28 to May 26, 2014. A total of 82 health centers were recruited using simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Lead time of reagents and consumables was calculated using SPSS version 20. Results A total of 20 (24.4%) health centers took more than two weeks to receive TB laboratory reagents from Woreda Health Office and the longest lead time was 1 to 2 month(s) in 10 (12.2%) health centers. Transportation delay of consumables was 5 times higher among Pharmaceuticals and Fund Supply Agency (odds ratio: 4.7, 95% confidence interval: 2.5–9.0) and 4 times higher among Woreda (odds ratio: 3.7, 95% confidence interval: 2.0–6.9) as compared to health center truck. Conclusions One fourth of health centers had longer lead time of TB laboratory commodities as a result of transportation delay. Thus, decentralization of transportation with dedicated vehicles is recommended to shorten lead times.