Division of Microbiology and Serology

• Routine Bacteriology
• Staining and Interpretation
• Culture & Susceptibility test
• Manual method- All clinical specimens- Culture , identification and antimicrobial susceptibility test
• Automated Blood culture system BD FX 200
• Automation – Identification and MIC – Vitek 2 – system
• Automated Tuberculosis culture – MIGIT 320
• Ist line susceptibility test MIGIT INSTRUMENT

Molecular tests available on the GeneXpert platform.

• X Pert MTB / RIF
• X Pert quantitative HIV 1 viral load
• X Pert quantitative HCV viral load
• HBV quantitative HCV viral load
• C. difficle Toxin detection
• Carba R test for detection of carbapenem resistant bacteria
• SARS CoV 2 rapid Real time RTPCR in respiratory samples.

Mycology

• Fungal culture
• Candida Identification – Vitek 2 and antifungal susceptibility test
• Aspergillus Galactomannan test- Blood & BAL fluid
• Cryptococcal antigen test
• Viral screening in stool sample
• Clostridium toxin detection

TB Diagnosis -New rapid point of care test

• X Pert MTB/ RIF test is a DNA test- Real time PCR test for TB diagnosis
• Quicker, accurate Method
• Diagnosing TB with accuracy in < 3 hours.
• Simultaneous detection of Tuberculosis and Rifampin resistance, endorsed by WHO

Advantages of Blood Culture Automated System

• Use of resin containing media with higher rates of organism recovery.
• Rapid detection of bacteria, fungi, Atypical Mycobacteria by superior florescence detection technology.
• Early detection of positive culture allow for proper diagnosis & treatment of blood stream infection.

Serology

• Routine serology- ASO, RA, CRP, VDRL, PCT
• Blood Borne screening – Automation
• Hepatitis marker
• Dengue serology
• Manual – All tube agglutination tests
• ELISA – for various infectious (TORCH ) and non-infectious diseases ACA
• Measurement of Faecal Elastase – ELISA – a non-invasive first line test to assess patients with chronic pancreatitis
• Cystic fibrosis
• Chronic inflammatory bowl disease
• Exocrine pancreatic dysfunction
• Extended serology -ANA, ANCA profile & Western blot