Ascension : BUSINESS NEWS FROM ST. HELENA
Submitted by The Islander (Gavin Yon) 22.06.2006 (Article Archived on 06.07.2006)

Medical Laboratory receives DiaMed-ID Microtyping System

Medical Laboratory receives DiaMed-ID Microtyping System

The St Helena Dive Club, the Car Rally Club, and the Salvation Army made World Blood Donor Day extra special for the Public Health and Social Services Department this year. On Wednesday 14 June the department was presented with a machine that will test blood compatibility before carrying out blood transfusions.

On behalf of the voluntary organisations, Larry Thomas, Chairman of the St Helena Dive Club, presented the machine to Geoffrey Benjamin, Senior Biomedical Scientist in the presence of persons from the Public Health and Social Services Committee, senior staff from the departments Administration Section, the Laboratory staff, members of the St Helena Dive Club, and members of the Salvation Army.

Geoffrey told those in attendance that when he took up post in February 2005, he had prepared a list of equipment which he described as a “wish list” for the Laboratory. He went on to say that he recognised that it wouldn’t be possible to purchase everything due to limited funds.

After speaking with Geoffrey about the shortage of blood donors on St Helena Larry succeeded in encouraging members of the Dive Club to become donors, and to demonstrate their commitment to the blood transfusion service the members felt that they wanted to do more.

They asked the Medical Laboratory to identify a piece of equipment they needed and fundraising commenced with a sponsored swim. The department had already received just over £500 from the Car Rally Club, and the St Helena Dive Club succeeded in topping this up to over £1500. The Salvation Army had also raised almost £200 from a Christmas collection last year and the funds were pooled together to purchase the machine along with some add-ons.

The new machine will replace the older, more conventional methods of testing, making things easier and quicker for laboratory staff. As an example Geoffrey said that when he first started work as a Laboratory Assistant the conventional method took about two hours to complete and this could require the use of about 48 test tubes if cross-matching six units of blood. The same test can now be done in a small cassette filled with acrylamide gel and the appropriate reagent, and completed in 20 minutes.  This is a vast improvement for the Laboratory and it makes preparations for emergency transfusions much quicker and less prone to errors. The equipment is now in use at the Hospital and, as well as testing blood compatibility, it can also be used to carry out tests for hepatitis, syphilis and sickle cell screening if so required.

As well as expressing his thanks to the voluntary organisations Geoffrey took the opportunity to thank all of the blood donors on St Helena.

Ivy Ellick OBE, Chief Administrative Health and Social Services Officer, highlighted how expensive medical equipment is especially as the department has thirteen sections to provide for and therefore was extremely grateful to the Dive Club, the Car Rally Club and the Salvation Army for their generous donation.

Larry acknowledged the hard work and dedication of the Dive Club members and also made special mention of support given by all of the swimmers and sponsors, resulting in the purchase of the machine.

Public Relations/Information office
Office of the Chief Secretary
15 June 2006