68. Some 24 tons of silver were certified in the Commerce and Industry Division. The quantity of gold products examined was far in excess of the figure for the previous year. The Division continued its regular protection work resulting in considerable savings to Government. 69. Plans were approved for alterations and extensions to the existing laboratory and designs submitted for a new Forensic and Narcotics Laboratory at Police Headquarters, Hong Kong.
GOVERNMENT INSTITUTE OF PATHOLOGY
(See tables 37-40)
70. The total number of examinations for the year under review excceded that of the previous year by 155,706, indicating an increase of about 10%. The increase was mainly in the Haematology, Serology, Blood Bank and Bacteriology sections.
71. Duc to the increasing amount of work the Institute of Pathology, Sai Ying Pun underwent alterations so as to extend the tuberculosis and public health sections. The alteration work was completed in September, 1968.
Morbid Anatomy and Histology
72. A total of 1.898 post-mortem examinations were carried out during the year, of which 486 had medico-legal implications. The brains of 38 dogs were examined for the presence of Negri bodies (indicating death from rabies) but no positive findings were obtained. Over 3,000 specimens of sputum, and pleural and other fluids, were received for cytological examination of which 83 showed evidence of malignant disease. Over 15,000 biopsy specimens were examined in order to determine the bisto-pathological diagnosis. Of these slightly over 4,000 were benign or malignant tumours.
Haematology and Serology and Blood Bank
73. Slightly more than 285,000 haematology specimens were ex- amined, the most common examinations being haemoglobin estimations, total and deferential white cell counts, blood slide examinations and blood grouping. Over 135,000 scrology tests were performed, the most common being the V.D.R.L. floculation slide test for syphilis. In the blood banks 23,070 pints of blood were received during the year, 22.033 pints of which was from the blood collecting centres of the Hong Kong Red Cross Society. A total of over 15,000 examinations of blood were carried out in the blood banks.
2.2
Chemical Pathology
74. Some 277,000 specimens were examined. The most common being various quantitive examinations upon blood, which accounted for over 200,000 of the examinations,
Bacteriology
75. Over 457,000 bacteriological examinations were carried out. Samples of nightsoil, well water and imported food from endemic areas were routinely examined throughout the year for cholera vibrios. There was no positive isolated and no clinical cases were detected. The isolation of non-cholera vibrios in nightsoil samples presented opportuni. ties for further work on identification and typing. The use of nitrate blood agar and coagulated serum agar as selective media for the growth of these vibrios has been of value. The emergence of multiple drug resistant strains of Shigella organisms received further study. In the food section new tests were developed to comply with the bealth regulations of importing countries.
76. Apart from routine bacteriological diagnosis of tuberculosis, the tuberculosis laboratory was involved in anti-tuberculosis drug sensitivity tests in conjunction with the Medical Research Council of the United Kingdom. In this connexion the slide culture technique initiated by a member of the Medical Research Council in this laboratory for rapid testing of anti-tuberculosis drug sensitivity is progressing satisfactory.
Virology
77. The Government Virus Unit continued diagnostic examination for virus infections and surveys in connection with poliomyelitis. Other projects included studies of respiratory virus infections and follow-up of post-vaccinal measles antibody.
78. Laboratory evidence of poliovirus infection was obtained in 14 suspected cases of poliomyelitis, 13 of which were type 1 and one type 2 infections. The incidence was higher than in 1967 but much lower than the incidences observed in the period 1960-66. Two poliomyelitis faecal surveys in normal children were carried out in June and December respectively. "Wild" poliovirus was not detected in either survey and despite the increased incidence of poliomyelitis during the year there was no evidence of dissemination of the 'wild' poliovirus with the community.
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