The Department of Microbiology became an independent specialty in the
year 1977, under stewardship of Dr. (Mrs.) Prema K Murti (1977-1991). Earlier
since 1946, Microbiology department existed as a part of Department of
Pathology and Bacteriology. During the tenor of Dr Prema K. Murti, Post graduate seats for M.D. (Microbiology), M. Sc. (by
research) and Ph. D. (Microbiology) were offered for the
first time, for Microbiology specialty at TNMC & BYL Nair Ch.
Hospital. The department was equipped with modular fluorescent phase contrast
Microscope, ELISA reader, Ultra cold deep freezer and a computer.
Photomicrography facility was made available to the entire institution.
Dr. V Kale had a brief
tenure as a Professor & Head from June 1991 to May 1992.
Dr. (Mrs) G. V.
Koppikar was Professor & Head of Microbiology from September 19992 to
November 2004. During her tenure, Zonal AIDS Surveillance Centre was
established; Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) was
commenced and Hospital Infection Control Committee was set up.
Dr. (Mrs.) G. V. Koppikar was Professor & Head of Microbiology from
September 1992 to November 2004. During her tenure, Zonal AIDS Surveillance
Center was established; Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme
(RNTCP) was commenced and Hospital Infection Control Committee was set up.
Additional area was made available for Voluntary, Confidential, Counselling
& Testing Centre (VCCTC) activity.
Dr. (Mrs.) K. Saraswathi was Professor & Head of Microbiology from
December 2004 to September 2006. CD4/CD8 testing facilities are made available
since March 2005. She was instrumental in setting up of various sections of the
department as the requirement of MCI. Also, she started Emergency Lab services
for Microbiology in Nair Hospital.
Dr.
Jayanthi S. Shastri was Professor & Head of the department from October 2006 to September 2022. The Molecular Diagnostic Reference
Laboratory at Kasturba Hospital for infectious disease was commissioned under her expert guidance and supervision in April 2007. This laboratory was also
designated as ‘Regional HIV Reference
Laboratory’ By National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) in 2010 which extends
HIV Viral load testing for patients on ART and HIV DNA PCR as part of Early
Infant Diagnosis. During her tenure ‘Gene Expert Laboratory’ for Tuberculosis
and ‘Regional Reproductive Tract Infections/Sexually Transmitted Infections
Testing, Training, Research & Reference Laboratory (RSTRRL)’ under National
AIDS Control Organization were set up. Viral Research Diagnostic Laboratory
(VRDL) under the DHR scheme of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was
established at Kasturba Hospital in 2019. Genome Sequencing Centre for outbreak
preparedness and epidemiology at Kasturba Hospital & Centre for Excellence
in Immunology Research – A MCGM and TATA initiative in collaboration with ICMR-
NIRRCH at Nair Hospital was also conceptualized inaugurated in 2021. COVID-19
diagnostic services including Rapid Antigen testing & 24x7 TRUENAT testing
was offered by the department during COVID 19 pandemic. During her tenure
HIV/CD4, RSTRRL, Serology, Immunology, Mycology, Mycobacteriology, Parasitology
& Molecular laboratories achieved NABL accreditation as per ISO15189:2012.
Dr Reena Set is currently Professor & Head of the department since October 2022. Her area of interest is
Bacteriology and Mycobacteriology. Currently the Department is in the process
of completion of NABL accreditation for Bacteriology and setting up a Biosafety
level 2 Virology Research Laboratory at Nair Hospital.
The Department plays an active role in various National Programmes like
National AIDS Control Programme, National STI Control Programme, National
Tuberculosis Elimination Programme, National Vector-borne Disease Control
Programme and is a part of IDSP network.
The Department of Microbiology is NABL accredited as per ISO 15189:2012.
It offers diagnostic services for infectious diseases through various divisions
viz Bacteriology, Mycobacteriology, Mycology, Parasitology, Serology, and
Immunology including ICTC/CD4 and RTI/STI. The department also provides
emergency laboratory services after routine working hours and on all public
holidays.
Senior Resident
Professor and Head
Additional professor
Associate Professor
Associate Professor
Associate Professor
Associate Professor (Additional)
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor, Contract
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Sr No |
Section |
Investigation |
1 |
ICTC & CD4 laboratory 3rd floor,
311 |
HIV antibody test |
CD4 test (for
patients on ART) |
||
HIV 1 Viral Load
for the patients registered for ART |
||
HIV 1 DNA PCR for
infants |
||
2 |
Serology 3rd
Floor, 311E |
WIDAL, RA, ASO VDRL/RPR Rapid HBsAg/HCV/
HIV (only for hemodialysis patients) |
Fever Profile (Rapid tests for Leptospira IgM, Dengue NS1, Dengue IgM /IgG,
Rapid Malaria Antigen) |
||
Specimens referred
for PCR test to PCR laboratory, Kasturba Hospital for Leptospirosis, Dengue &
H1N1 |
||
3 |
Immunology 3rd
floor, 311A |
ELISA for HBsAg,
HCV, IgM HAV, IgM HEV, IgM Leptospira, IgM
Dengue, NS1 Dengue, IgM Chikungunya |
4 |
RSTRRL 3rd floor,
305 |
RPR/VDRL/TPHA HBsAg/HCV ELISA of ART and STI/ RTI patients Chlamydia Ag ELISA HSV 2 IgM ELISA Gram staining of
STI/RTI patients CBNAAT HPV testing |
5 |
Bacteriology
3rd
floor, 313 |
Blood culture (conventional) Aerobic culture &
Antimicrobial susceptibility test |
Blood culture (Automated method
BACTEC )
Rapid aerobic bacterial culture by automated system as per availability |
||
Normally sterile body fluids culture C.S.F, Pleural,
Pericardial, Peritoneal (Ascitic), Joint, Gram stain Smear, Culture and
Antimicrobial susceptibility test |
||
Throat swab from suspected
diphtheria case Gram stain Smear and Albert stain smear examination by microscopy
for Diphtheria Culture on appropriate media |
||
Sputum - Gram stain Smear, Culture
and Antimicrobial susceptibility test |
||
Respiratory samples culture (mini BAL, BAL,
endotracheal aspirate) Gram stain Smear, Culture and Antimicrobial
susceptibility test |
||
Miscellaneous (Pharyngeal swabs, Skin
scraping )- Gram stain Smear, Culture and Antimicrobial susceptibility test |
||
Ocular specimens (conjunctival swab,
Corneal scrapings, corneal button, eye discharge, vitreous humor, cornea)
Gram stain Smear, Culture and Antimicrobial susceptibility test |
||
Pus: Gram stain Smear, Culture and
Antimicrobial susceptibility test |
||
Wound swab Gram stain Smear
examination by microscopy, Culture and Antimicrobial susceptibility test |
||
Tissue (other appropriate specimen) for gas
gangrene Gram stain Smear and Culture (anaerobic) |
||
Specimens from female genital tract ( Vaginal /cervical swab,
Urethral discharge, product of conception ) and urethral discharge Gram stain
Smear, Culture and Antimicrobial susceptibility test |
||
Stool Microscopy hanging drop |
||
Stool Gram stain smear Culture & Antimicrobial
susceptibility test |
||
Urine Gram stain Smear, culture & Antimicrobial
susceptibility test |
||
Anaerobic Culture |
||
6 |
Mycobacteriology
311 F & G 3rd
floor |
CBNAAT (GeneXpert) for pulmonary and extrapulmonary
tuberculosis |
Fluorescent Microscopy |
||
ZN staining for EPTB |
||
Mycobacterial culture |
||
MPT 64 |
||
7 |
Parasitology 3rd
floor |
Stool Routine Microscopy |
Stool for occult blood |
||
Special stain for stool (Kinyoun stain) |
||
8 |
Mycology 3rd
floor 311 |
KOH Microscopy |
Gram stain |
||
Fungal culture & identification |
||
India ink staining for Cryptococcus |
||
COVID -19 Services |
Rapid COVID 19 Antigen
detection test |
|
TRUENAT for SARS CoV-2 |
||
CBNAAT COVID 19 testing |
||
Specimens (VTM) referred for
PCR test to PCR laboratory, Kasturba Hospital for SARS CoV 2 |
||
10 |
E lab OPD
building 4th floor |
Fever Profile (Rapid tests for Leptospira IgM, Dengue NS1, Dengue IgM /IgG, Rapid Malaria Antigen) |
Rapid HBsAg/HCV/ HIV (only for hemodialysis patients) |
||
Automated Blood culture |
||
Throat swab from suspected
diphtheria case Smear examination by microscopy for Diphtheria Culture on
appropriate media |
||
Ocular specimens (conjunctival swab,
Corneal scrapings, corneal button, eye discharge, vitreous humor, cornea)
Smear, Culture |
||
Stool Microscopy hanging drop and culture |
||
Fungal culture and KOH (suspected cases of
Mucormycosis) |
||
CSF for India ink |
||
Tissue or pus samples for Gas
Gangrene |
||
11 |
New
services started in year 2020 |
Rapid COVID 19 Antigen detection testing |
TRUENAT for SARS CoV-2 |
||
CBNAAT testing for COVID 19 |
||
CBNAAT testing for HPV |
||
Automated blood culture for Emergency Lab |
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