Laboratory Management:

1. Read the WHO LQMS sheet with General Information on Equipment Management (in the right-hand column). [TB] For equipment and supplies management specific to TB labratory please refer to Guidance for Countries on the Specifications for Managing TB Laboratory Equipments and Supplies .
2. Make a list of tasks and responsibilities for the position of Equipment Officer (these will later be used when writing the Position Job Description, Authorization Matrix, and the Personal Job Description).
3. Select the most appropriate staff member for the position of Equipment Officer.
4. Appoint this staff member as Equipment Officer.
5. The position of Equipment Officer is part time, but it poses an extra burden on the normal work activities of this staff member. If the tasks become to many and the staff member is overburdened with work, allocate tasks of the Equipment Officer’s former work to other staff members or hire additional staff if necessary.

If some pieces of equipment need regular calibration or specified maintenance and there is no availability of specified technical maintenance companies in-country, identify funding and send the Equipment Officer to training on technical maintenance and calibration of these pieces of equipment. Where possible include technical training on maintenance in calibration in tenders for new equipment.