Department Of Microbiology

General Information:

The Department of Microbiology was established as an independent Identity/Department in 1982. From its humble beginning of conventional diagnostic techniques, it has now evolved into a giant department with fully developed section, of Bacteriology, Mycobacteriology, ICTC centre, Clinical Microbiology Lab, Mycology Lab and the newer Molecular Diagnostic labs of advance Research & Virology.

Bacteriology Section

In the bacteriology Section, we have facility for C/S by conventional and automated methods. Outbreaks of various infectious diseases like Gastroenteritis, dysentery, meningitis, cholera etc are investigated.

Under HICC, environmental surveillance of OT’s & ICU’s is done routinely. In furuter we are planning for including newer techniques i.e. PCR and MALDI TOF through which identification & sensitivity results can be reported early which will be beneficial for certically ill patients.

Mycology Section

The science of study of Fungus, earlier a domain of botanists, has now become an integral part of microbiology due to emergence of various fungal infections. A separate lab has been in function for a long time. Oresently equipped with Biosafety cabinet class II, 2 BOD incubators & other essential m stain, KOH mouth, India ink along with fungal Culture & identification. The lab is soon going to launch Anti fungal susceptibility of both yest & molds and also planning to start Molecular techniques for fungal identification.

Clinical Microbiology (Central Lab)

1. The dept. expanded its facilities inside hospital premises by establishing a microbiology diagnostic wing in the name of clinical Microbiology in Central Lab. This Laboratory is principally doing Serology of infection diseases. Laboratory is well equipped with state of the art technologies, conventional techniques, EKISA chemili\luminescence are employed for accurate & reliable test results. Automated blood culture system has been installed since many years.

2. Recently laboratory is catering to the expanded needs of patient care, especially since the introduction of mukhyamantri nishulk yozana in which the burden of investigations have increased by approximately 110% most tests are free of cost for the Patient.

Measles & Rubella Lab

Being a part of who-Measles Rubella Lab Network we carryout serological diagnosis of Measles-Rubella of outbreak samples received from various parts of northern India.

HIV Lab

With the looming epidemic of HIV infection testing for HIV started in this institute in late 80’s As per changes in focus of NACO programme this ICTC is legally identified as HIV test lab, SMS Medical College, Jaipur Presently we are doing testing of HIV antibody, Pre & Post test district & peripheral labs & has been recently accredited by NABL. We also organize various training for lab technicians.

In future we are planning to start HIV viral load facility for HIV positive patients.

Advance Research & Virology Lab

It was inaugurated in December 2007

It is the first lab in Rajasthan to start Real time PCR. We are doing PCR for TB, Viral load estimation for HBV, HCV & HIV. In Oct. 2009 lab was upgraded to BSL-2 facility for Swine flu testing. We also validated indigenous Swine Flu kit for ICMR. The lab was further upgraded by ICMR/HDR as grade 1 & virology lab under which we have standardized viral diagnosis for more than 40 viruses by ELISA, PCR & genotyping by sequencing. Recently we managed Swine flu outbreak by working exhaustively and provided result in 24 hrs. We have done 6500 tests during this outbreak over a period of 2v months.

TB Lab

The lab has been doing culture and drug susceptibility testing since more than ten years in LJ and MGIT 960 system. Lab was one of the few sites to start and validate Hains Line probe Assay as part of FIND demonstration project which is now being used to provide rapid immediate diagnosis of MDRTB under DOSTS plus Program of RNTCP free of cost to half of the state of Rajasthan. Our lab has been the first government medical college lab to get accreditation for all the three the technologies for TB culture and DST from Central TB Division projects on comparison of PCR LJ and MGIT for rapid detection of TB, Rapid identification of NTM by PCR RFLP etc extramural research projects funded by ICMR on Molecular epidemiology of TB in slum areas of Jaipur City, by Lupin on evaluating the extended bactericidal activity of their compound. We are also detecting XDRTB and NTM by LAP.