Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
The Associated Press - Sunday, December 19, 1999
Mohamed Osman, Associated Press Writer
The central laboratory, known as Stack Laboratory, has been "unable to carry out these tests since Thursday," a spokesman for the lab told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
The Al-Rai Al-Aam independent daily said that hospitals stopped performing all major surgical procedures Thursday, when informed by the lab of the problem.
The chemicals required to conduct the tests are available, but the lab doesn't have the money to buy them, the laboratory official said, adding that the Health Ministry is expected to provide the necessary funds and "we will resume work any time."
He did not say how much money was needed or what chemicals had run out. For government blood banks, the laboratory is the sole body to carry out essential blood-screening tests. Before any transfusions in public hospitals - where the majority of Khartoum's population of about one million goes for treatment - blood samples are tested by the lab to avoid the spread of hepatitis and AIDS. Both illnesses have reached epidemic proportions in Africa. There are three main public hospitals in the capital where operations are performed.
Private hospitals in Khartoum have their own labs and were not affected by Stack Laboratory's troubles.
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