Organ transplants hampered by lack of equipment

A SHORTAGE of specialist medical equipment is hampering organ transplants in the TRNC, according to a senior specialist.

Feriha Eyyüpler, a molecular biology and genetics specialist at the laboratory in the Thalassaemia Centre in Lefkoşa State Hospital, said HLA-typing tests to ensure that donated organs were compatible with patients had to be undertaken in Turkey, which was time-consuming.

“The equipment for HLA testing should be purchased to ensure a faster transplant process,” she said, adding that the lack of a dedicated forensic lab in the TRNC also caused other problems. The range of work being undertaken by the lab — including, since 2010, DNA testing — was all taking place in a single room, rather than being in separate facilities as it should be.

Ms Eyyüpler added: “There is a common belief in the TRNC that DNA analysis is not undertaken in the country and that it only relates to paternity tests, which is misinformation.”

Head of the laboratory Eldem Albayrak said that because of a lack of modern equipment, DNA testing also had to be done manually, and meant samples for forensic testing in criminal cases still had to be sent to Turkey.

“If isolation equipment were purchased, it would be possible to obtain DNA untouched by human hands,” she said.