Laboratory of Hematology at Dalal Jamm Hospital in Dakar, Senegal
Q: Can you tell us about your lab?
A: Our lab is the Laboratory of Hematology at Dalal Jamm Hospital in Dakar, Senegal. We operate as a public hospital-affiliated laboratory. We have a dedicated team of 14 permanent staff members, including 4 biologists (3 PharmD and 1 MD), 1 engineer in Biology, and 9 technicians. Additionally, every six months, we welcome 4 residents and 4 students for training and experience.
Q: What is the volume of work in your lab and the patient population at your hospital?
A: In 2023, our lab performed over 34,000 tests, including 15,000 peripheral blood counts (PBC), 286 bone marrow aspirations, 133 immunophenotyping tests, and more than 6,000 hemostasis tests. During the same year, our hospital served a patient population of 23,524 individuals.
Q: Does your lab have a social media presence?
A: Yes, you can find us on Facebook at this link. Feel free to tag us!
Q: Is your lab accredited, and are you working towards accreditation?
A: Currently, our lab is not accredited, but we are actively working towards achieving accreditation.
Q: Can you share any accomplishments that you are particularly proud of?
A: We take pride in being the first and only laboratory in French-speaking West Africa to routinely perform flow cytometry for diagnosing hematologic malignancies. We also conduct minimal residual disease (MRD) assessments in multiple myeloma (MM), diagnose platelet disorders, and detect paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).
Q: What are the main challenges your lab faces?
A: Our lab faces several primary challenges. One significant issue is the need for staff retraining, which has prompted us to consider establishing a continuous training program to address this need effectively. Additionally, we occasionally experience shortages or unavailability of reagent supplies, which can impact our operations. Another challenge is the presence of outdated equipment that requires upgrading to ensure we maintain optimal performance and accuracy in our work.
Q: Are there any exciting future plans for your lab?
.A: Yes! We are planning to acquire equipment for molecular biology tests and cytogenetic analysis to enhance our diagnostic capabilities.