Clinical Diagnostic laboratory services

The microbiology laboratory caters to the needs of the various clinical specialties providing a wide range of diagnostic microbiological investigations for diagnosis of several infectious and immunological conditions. The laboratory has applied for NABL accreditation.

Investigations Performed in Diagnostic Labs

Bacteriology

• Gram’s staining, Albert’s staining, modified acid-fast staining.
• Culture and sensitivity- carried out inside the Laminar flow bench
• Combination disc method for ESBL detection.
• Modified Hodge test and EDTA disc synergy test for carbapenemases and MBL detection.
• Slide agglutination test using specific anti-sera for identification of important pathogens.

Immunology

• Rheumatoid factor latex agglutination
• CRP latex agglutination.

Serology

• Widal Test for enteric fever.
• ASO (Latex Agglutination) for Streptococcal infection
• RPR and VDRL for Syphilis.
• Immunochromatographic test for detection of Leptospira IgG & IgM antibodies
• Scrub Typhus – ICT & ELISA.

Virology

• Viral load by RT-PCR (Bio-Rad) for HBV, HCV, CMV.
• Immunochromatographic test for detection of Dengue IgG & IgM antibodies and NS1 antigen.
• Rapid test for HCV antibody detection
• HBsAg ELISA and rapid test.
• 4th generation ELISA and Dot ELISA for HIV I & 2.

Tuberculosis (RNTCP referral centre in Kanchipuram and Thiruporur)

• Ziehl-Neelsen Method of Staining Acid-Fast Bacilli.
• Modified Ziehl-Neelsen Staining for lepra bacilli.
• Auraminerhodamine staining for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• Culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• 4th generation ELISA and Dot ELISA for HIV I & 2.

Parasitology

• Saline, Iodine and LPCB wet mount for parasitic eggs, cyst and trophozoites.
• Modified Acid Fast Staining for Cryptosporidium, Isospora and Cyclospora.
• Leishman’s staining.
• Immunochromatographic tests for Plasmodium spp.
• Inhouse ELISA and IgG ELISA for Neurocysticercosis.

Mycology

• 10% KOH examination.
• Modified India ink method.
• Lactophenol cotton blue (LPCB) mount.
• Culture on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar with or without cycloheximide.
• Culture of dermatophytes on Dermatophyte test medium.
• Slide culture.
• Germ tube test
• Cornmeal agar culture for demonstration of chlamydospores
• Antifungal susceptibility testing for yeast.

Molecular Diagnostic Lab

• PCR for detection of ESBL genes and uropathogens.
• Staphylococcus aureus mecA gene detection by PCR.
• GEL electrophoresis