Module 9. Survey equipment and supplies

Anthropometry

Collecting, storing, transporting and analysing biological specimens and food samples

Communication and data collection

Labeling requirements to consider when purchasing or generating them

Supply lists and ordering

Storing, tracking, inventory, and transport of supplies

Introduction

Having the correct equipment and supplies, and having enough of them, are essential to the success of any survey. The Management team, in consultation with the Technical committee and subcommittees, will need to invest time to review each aspect of the survey and the related needs for supplies and equipment.

A number of components of the survey design must be confirmed in order to develop an adequate procurement list:

• Whether or not to include anthropometry in the survey, and for which population groups (see Module 1: Planning and designing a micronutrient survey);
• which specimens and food samples to collect, and how they will be collected, transported, stored, and analysed (see Module 2: Indicators of programme coverage, specimen selection, management, and analysis);
• which laboratories will be used to analyse samples and specimens, and whether or not they are in the country. If analyses will be done in another country, there will be shipping requirements to consider (see Module 2: Indicators of programme coverage, specimen selection, management, and analysis);
• whether data collection will be paper-based or electronic (see Module 4: Survey design);
• whether reimbursements will be provided to participants (for example, replacement food samples); and
• how labeling will be done, for example by barcode or other methods.

This module first discusses considerations for the points above that are not included in other modules, then it provides guidance on initial and final listings, procurement, storage, calibration, transport and tracking of equipment and supplies.