Surgery and Healing in the Developing World - Dartmouth-Hitchcock

8
60 Surgery and Healing in the Developing World
Lab in a suitcase
Phase contrast microscope fitted 25-50 blood transfusion bags with anti-coagulant
with mirror & light source 500 ml ethanol
10X, 40X, 100X and oil 1000 ml sterile distilled water
immersion objectives *20 small test tubes
*15 Urine collection bottles *5 glass eye droppers
Extra bulbs Leishman stain ˜˜100 ml
Oil for viewing Field stain ˜ 50 ml
*Hemocytometer Gram stain ˜ 100 ml
*100 glass slides Carbon Fuscin stain ˜ 100ml
*100 glass cover slips Xylene ˜ 50 ml
Syringes (1,5,10,50 ml) HIV & Hapatitis B kit ˜ 50 tests
Needles (16,18,20 and 22 G) Widal kit ˜ 50 tests
Sterile alcohol swabs Blood typing kit ˜ 50 tests
Citrate saline ˜ 100 ml Glucometer
*Pipettes 100 b-HCG dipsticks
One 40-200 ml 200 Glucose/dextrose sticks
One 100-1000 ml 200 Urine dipsticks
*50 tips to fit each pipette Extras:
Maglite Propane powered Coleman stove
10 candles Battery-powered portable photometer
*30 pairs Gloves Enzyme immunoassays, biochemistry and drug
Calculator level for serum, plasma and urine
*5 ESR tubes
Pipette bulb
Vertical ESR stand
Timer
Tweezers
1 box kimwipes
100 ml graduated cylinder
*All re-usable if cleaned and dried. Note: Reagents are required if stains are to
bemade by the technician
power is not available, an alternate must be considered. Solar powered refrigerators
are one possibility.
Much of the equipment listed in the suitcase has been chosen for its ability to be
reused. All glassware, slides, ESR tubes, urine bottle, gloves, pipette tips, etc. can be
cleaned, dried and reused. This recycling minimizes the amount of equipment that
needs to be transported (Fig. 2).
Organizing and Setting Up the Lab
A clean, flat surface is necessary when setting up the lab. If a bench top or table
is not available, a flat section of ground covered with a clean sheet will suffice. If a
room is available, it will optimally include a power and water supply and refrigerator.
Large windows covered with fly nets will make the working atmosphere more
enjoyable and provide good lighting. In short, a simple room in either a building or
dwelling will do quite nicely.