Microbiology

The Department of Microbiology, HIMSR, Jamia Hamdard was established in 2011 and is actively involved in Academics, research, and diagnostics in areas of bacteriology, virology, parasitology, mycology, immunology and molecular biology. It is well equipped with the latest diagnostic, research and teaching facilities for medical and paramedical students, faculty and patients in the specified areas.

The departmental faculty has published number of articles in indexed journals of national and international repute including oral and poster presentations in various National and International conferences and won prizes.

The diagnostic facility provided by the department at HAH Centenary Hospital is of highest standard and its seven laboratories are well equiped with state of the art equipment. The laboratory performs all types of Microbiological tests, ranging from routine procedures to molecular techniques. With its recently installed GeneXpert system the department is performing molecular tests and delivering results in double quicker time.

The Microbiology department is actively involved in many National programs like FICTC, HIV testing laboratory methods under NACO guidelines, RNTCP program for Tuberculosis. The Department is running a DMC Centre under RNTCP at HAHC hospital in association with Department of Community Medicine, which provides free microscopy results for tuberculosis patients. The DOTS Centre would be starting soon providing free ATT for the IPD patients. The Department also focuses on microbiological diagnosis and surveillance of many infectious diseases.

Core competencies of the department:

• The Department encourages students and faculty to learn and research on infectious diseases by using innovative teaching learning methods, inter and interdepartmental collaborations.
• Being well equipped not only in seven diagnostic laboratories, the department is also having a well-equipped library and high end Research Lab.
• Microbiology is actively contributing in Research, Diagnosis of infectious diseases, Molecular assays, Hospital infection control, Biomedical waste management in the hospital including providing Assistance in the district administration in periodic recording of the Communicable diseases.

Facilities Available:

1. COVID-19 diagnosis

• RT-PCR for COVID -19
• COVID-19 antigen test ( Free of cost- supported by Govt of
• COVID-19 Serology (IgG/IgM) (screening test)

2. Molecular Diagnosis:

The department of Microbiology hosts a state of the art BSL-2 molecular biology laboratory with both conventional RT-PCR and CBNAAT (GeneXpert) Systems.

• Hepatitis: HBV RT-PCR HCV RT-PCR
• Uro-gential infection: HPV RT-PCR
• Respiratory infection: H1N1 RT-PCR

3. Culture and sensitivity- for Bacterial infection:

The department of Microbiology hosts a state of the art BSL-2 molecular biology laboratory with both conventional RT-PCR and CBNAAT (GeneXpert) Systems.

• culture and sensitivity testing for detection of payogenic infection is done for various samples like urine, CSF, pus , tissue, stool, sputum, aspirates, throat swab, HVS and many others
• Antimicrobial sensitivity and bacterial identification is done through fully automated VITEK-2 system for accurate and quick results.

4. Tuberculosis diagnosis

The Department of Microbiology runs the government of India sponsored Designated Microscopy Centre (DMC) that performs tuberculosis diagnostics tests free of cost. The centre performs microscopic examination of sputum as well as molecular diagnosis through CBNAAT technology under the program.

5. Facility Integrated Counseling and Testing Center( FICTC)

The Department of Microbiology runs NACO approved FICTC THT provides testing and counseling services for HIV diagnosis.

6. Fungal microscopy and culture:

Diagnosis for superficial, deep and systemic fungal infections is done through microscopy and fungal culture.

7. Detection of parasitic infection:

The Parasitology laboratory is well equipped to detect intestinal, blood, superficial and all other parasitic infections.

8. Sero-diagnosis:

The serology laboratory of Department of Microbiology has both ELISA and fully automated ELFA based VIDAS system that performs detection of desired antigen or antibodies in patient samples.