Economical choices in setting up a diagnostic myeloma laboratory

Indian J Pathol Microbiol. 2004 Oct;47(4):506-8.

Abstract

In setting up a diagnostic myeloma laboratory the popular, highly automated and otherwise excellent choices of equipment and laboratory practices, so exorbitantly raise costs that the sustainability, even in large government hospitals in third world countries may become difficult. Based on our experience in a regional cancer center in India, we offer here, guidelines for carrying out high resolution electrophoresis, densitometry, immunofixation and urine concentration. We show that by simply employing well established techniques and doing them properly, one can get results of excellent quality at minimum cost and minimum dependence on costly imports.

MeSH terms

  • Blood Protein Electrophoresis / economics
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques / economics
  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Densitometry / economics
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay / economics
  • India
  • Laboratories, Hospital / economics*
  • Multiple Myeloma / diagnosis*
  • Multiple Myeloma / economics*
  • Multiple Myeloma / metabolism
  • Myeloma Proteins / analysis
  • Urinalysis / economics

Substances

  • Myeloma Proteins