The Lab
on Shona in Sierra Leone (Sierra Leone), 02/Jul/2011 09:06, 34 days ago
I have got to dedicate a blog to the boys and girl who work in the lab at the hospital. We have a semi-functioning lab. And it’s got much much better in the time that I’ve been here. The list of tests we can request are as follows: haemoglobin, PCV, white blood cell count and differential, malaria rapid test and malaria smears, WIDAL (the most unspecific and insensitive test for typhoid), urinalysis and microscopy, stool microscopy, sickling test, HIV antibody test, Hepatitis B surface antigen, CSF microscopy (but only a white blood cell count and gram stain – no red cell count or culture!) and they have recently started doing protein, albumin and bilirubin.The lab staff are also the phlebotomists (they take the children’s blood). They (usually) know the meaning of urgent - Joseph particularly is brilliant at running straight to the ward to take urgent bloods when I ask. I can request a haemoglobin and get a result back less than 30 minutes. On the other hand – a bilirubin (which neonatal SHO’s in the UK cando in a matter of minutes) takes a full day…. I’m always just a bit dubious about quality control too - I’ve never yet seen an abnormal white blood cell count!The staff are unfailingly keen, friendly and helpful. I am usually in the lab at least once a day to chase up results and (although they don’t always find said results…) they really try hard to help me. They don’t let me speak English when I go to ask them anything, so they have taught me loads of Krio too.To the boys and girl in the lab; thanks for your help and keep up your smiles, enthusiasm and good work!