Laboratory and Blood Bank Department

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The hospital has a fully computerized NABL accredited laboratory with the highest quality standards in patient care. The lab. houses Biochemistry, Microbiology, Infectious Disease Serology & Immunology, Molecular Testing, Clinical Pathology & Hematology, Histopathology & Cytopathology units equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and supervised by experienced & competent Consultants and Executives. Stringent quality control measures are implemented in all the sections of the lab., including participation in external quality assurance schemes conducted by CAP/ NABL approved/ accredited international/ national organizations.

Fully computerized Biochemistry, Microbiology, Clinical Pathology & Haematology, Histopathology & Serology units.

• Can run more than 2000 tests round the clock.
• Blood bank with 1000 unit capacity and facilities for screening of blood for Hepatitis B & C, VDRL, Malarial Parasites, & HIV/AIDS

With our real – time PCR we can detect the viral load in case of a viral disease with quantification of the infectious agent as well as genotyping which cannot be done by the ordinary PCR method.

Biochemistry

The Biochemistry Laboratory has a comprehensive test menu of analytes and thus serving the needs of various clinical specialities. It is a NABL accredited laboratory that has the highest quality standards in patient care. The Biochemistry Laboratory also has a state of art facility which includes high throughput (fast) clinical chemistry autoanalysers, semi automated analysers, Electro Chemiluminescence based Immunoassay analyzer, Electrolyte analysers etc. The laboratory has bidirectionally interfaced equipments providing connectivity with the hospital management system and thus ensuring accurate and quick results. The laboratory participates in External Quality Assurance programmes. Research work is also done in the laboratory on biomarkers in various diseases.

• Routine Clinical Biochemistry assays done on a high throughput fully automated analyzer.
• Serum as well as urinary electrolytes done using Ion Selective Electrode Technology.
• Hormone assays including thyroid hormones, reproductive/fertility hormones, cortisol, insulin, ferritin are done on Cobas e411 Electro chemiluminescence analyzer.
• Vitamins like Serum B 12 and Folate.
• Urine chemistry including urinary albumin, protein, as well as 24 hour urinary urea,creatinine etc.
• Body Fluid (Ascitic / Pleural / Synovial / Cerebro Spinal Fluid) Chemistry.
• The laboratory has a facility to do a wide spectrum of Tumor Markers like Alpha Feto Protein (AFP), PSA, CA 19.9, CEA and CA 125.
• Analytes required in Critical care medicine like Lactate, Bicarbonate, and Procalcitonin.
• HbA1c (Glycosylated Hemoglobin) by HPLC (NGSP certified gold standard technique).
• Special and rare analytes like Copper and Ceruloplasmin.

Microbiology

Microbiology section is equipped with automated systems involving blood culture (FX40), TB culture (MGIT), bacterial identification and sensitivity (VITEK-2 Compact), biosafety and laminar airflow cabinets. Many research activities are in progress in this section with publications of many research papers in international and national journals. Students from all over the country participate in summer research and training program in this section every year. There are facilities for diagnosis of all microbes including the uncommon pathogens.

Infectious Disease Serology & Immunology

Infectious Disease Serology & Immunology section is equipped with modern equipment like Vitros Immunoassay system, Mini-Vidas, automated ELISA reader and Immunofluorescence microscope. There are facilities for immunofluorescence studies for ANA, dsDNA, pANCA , cANCA; ANA, Hepatitis & Gastric profiles by Immunoblot technology; all Hepatitis markers; TORCH; Dengue etc. besides rare parameters like Galactomannan (Aspergillus) antigen, Scrub typhus IgM and Brucella Serology.

Molecular Testing

This highly advanced department is equipped with rapid molecular detection facilities like CBNAAT (GeneXpert), which detects many deadly infections like COVID 19, Tuberculosis, Influenza (including H1N1), RSV, HBV DNA, HCV RNA, Clostridium difficile toxin within an hour or two. The unit is equipped with syndrome-based Multiplex PCR system (Biofire) that detects pathogens causing upper respiratory infections, pneumonia, meningitis and gastro-enteritis, within a matter of a few hours. There is also a full-fledged RTPCR Lab on the second floor with two Real Time PCR analyzers (Rotor Gene Q and CFX96), automated nucleic acid extractor (Kingfisher), manual extraction facilities, biosafety and laminar airflow cabinets, deep freezers and high speed cold centrifuge. The lab got ICMR approval for COVID 19 (SARS-CoV2) testing as early as on April 6, 2020, and is reputed for delivering authentic COVID reports with a turn-around time of only 6-8 hours. The lab. is also one of the few private labs. approved by the West Bengal Health Department for Flu-PCR testing. The lab also has facilities for genome sequencing by Sanger’s sequencing method.

Histopathology

Histopathology & Cytopathology deparment is involved with the macroscopic and microscopic examination of tissue samples (biopsy material) to diagnose and evaluate disease. Provides comprehensive services to the Peerless hospital,referrals from Peerless Diagnostics and of cases sent by General and Specialist Practitioners of the city of Kolkata and suburbs.
The department is subdivided into functional units including:

• Surgical Histopathology
• Histochemistry
• Immunohistochemistry and Research
• Exfoliative cytology
• FNABs.

The surgical pathology workload is organised into a sub-specialist team reporting system, which includes:

• Gynaecological and obstetric pathology
• Gastrointestinal, pancreaticobiliary and hepatic pathology
• Renal, urological and endocrine pathology
• Haematological and lymphoreticular pathology
• Paediatric Pathology
• Osteoarticular and soft tissue pathology
• Head and neck pathology
• Dermatopathology
• Cardiothoracic and respiratory pathology
• Ophthalmic pathology

The department deals with approximately 7,000 cases annually.
The department comprises of 10 medical, scientific and ancillary staff and has an excellent reputation for clinical and scientific training.

Blood Bank

Supported by a 24 hour Blood Transfusion service

• 100% component production
• Single donor platelet pheresis
• Random Donor platelet concentrate
• Pooled random donor platelet concentrate
• Fresh Frozen Plasma
• Cryoprecipitate
• Complete work-up for transfusion reaction
• Allo-antibody screening and typing
• Extended red cell phenotype
• Work-up for Immune haemolytic anemia
• Plasmapheresis
• Red cell exchange transfusion