Microbiology lab

The department of microbiology at Apollo Hospitals aims at providing accurate and reproducible results on clinical material within the shortest possible time. This has been archived by round the clock laboratory services, online reporting and use of state of the art equipment.

Blood culture on automated system for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, fungi and mycobacterium indicate positively from 3 hours onwards. Identification and sensitivity of most of the organism grown could be reporting in about 4- 6 hours, on an automated system. Thus organisms causing life threatening infections resulting in bacteraemia could not only be grown, but their identification and sensitivity would also be available in about 10 hours time, which would help greatly in institution of early specific antimicrobial therapy.

Conventional culture for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and fungi from clinical specimen other then blood is carried out on most appropriate media in controlled environment. Identification and sensitivity of bacteria can be reported within 4 – 6 hours on automated system, thus reducing the time of availability of report by almost a day.

Conventional culture of Mycobacterium takes 4 – 6 weeks. It is possible to report positive cultures from seventh day; once the growth is available the sensitivity can be reported in another seven days.

Detection of specific antibodies against different infecting organism (bacteria, fungi, parasite and virus) and autoimmune diseases are carried out both by conventional and ELISA system. More than 60 different types of Elisa’s are performed in our department. Almost all conventional serological tests are available. Western blot assay for HIV and ANA profile assay for autoimmune diseases are performed for specific results. Immunoflouroscence technology for infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases is done. Quality control (Q.C) and quality assurance (Q.A) are strictly implemented and usually authenticated by reproducible result from other laboratories in India.

The department is actively involved in infection control activities of the hospital. Eqidemiology