Health care in the developing world: need for appropriate laboratory technology.

Health care technology is rapidly advancing, and the development of equipment based on new principles has had a strong impact on laboratory services in Western countries. The use of such technologies frequently creates problems in countries of the Third World, because the effects of several interacting elements are not always taken into account. Not only technical factors but also socioeconomic and political factors, as well as differences in diseases in developing countries, must be considered. Standardization of equipment and methodology, and adaptation to local health systems, will facilitate improvement of laboratory services. Training and incentives for local initiatives are fundamental elements for the provision of cost-effective health care.