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 OTs & ICUs is done routinely. In future 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 critically ill patients. Quality control testing of blood bank samples and human milk bank samples are also done. 

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. Presently equipped with Biosafety cabinet class II, 2 BOD incubators & other essential stain, KOH mount, India ink along with fungal Culture & identification. The lab is soon going to launch Anti fungal susceptibility of both yeast & moulds 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 infectious diseases. Laboratory is well equipped with state of the art technologies, conventional techniques, ELISA chemiluminescence are employed for accurate & reliable test results.

2. Recently laboratory is catering to the expanded needs of patient care, especially since the introduction of Mukhyamantri Nihshulk Jaanch Yozana in which the burden of investigations have increased by approximately 110%, most tests are free of cost for the Patients.

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.

Parasitological lab (Section)

Stool microscopy for intestinal parasites. Acid fast staining of stool smears for coccidian parasites. Microscopy of fluids for parasites. Identification of parasites isolated from various sites.

HIV Lab

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 counselling is being done. It is a short reference lab and mentor of 115 ICTC's. We also organize various training for lab technicians.

We are planning to start HIV viral load facility for HIV positive patients soon.

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 and qualitative estimation of swine flu. 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 approx 62000 tests till date. In 2018, BSL-3 lab was established for various deadly virus diagnosis with film array for the following panel is also being done BLD culture, Encephaitis, Respiratory, GI panel.

TB Lab

The lab has been doing culture and drug susceptibility testing since more than ten years on 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 DOTS plus. Program of RNTCP is free of cost to half of the state of Rajasthan. This lab has been the first government medical college lab to get accreditation for all the three 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 LPA.

In BSL - 3 lab , MGIT 960 culture and DST is being done under FIND, testing of various samples by CBNAAT (Gene expert) for TB diagnosis and rifampicin sensitivity is being done.