The policy of the lab is to provide reliable and dependable results in minimum turn around time following good laboratory practices.  The Department of Biochemistry is accredited by NABL under the ISO 15189 guidelines in the year  November, 2005.  The Department is equipped with fully automated state of art sophisticated analyzers  such as Olympus AU 640, Dade Dimension RXL, Architect, Axsym and Daytona analyzers, automated protein electrophoresis analyzers, Image 800, most of analyzers are interfaced  with the HIS online for fast  report generation.

The department staff has 37 personnel including scientific officers, medical technicians and support staff.

Information for  Professionals

Service activities:

Spectrum of services provided include biochemical tests, tumor markers and blood gases for monitoring of patients on therapy and also the preoperative and postoperative evaluation in surgical patients. The laboratory does more than 9,46,005 tests annually which include biochemistry, blood gases and tumor markers. The emergency services caters to the need of the ICU and emergency patients. The emergency services also performs haematological tests. It has performed 24,974 tests in 2007. A detailed breakdown is given in the table.

Total number of tests done in biochemistry laboratory in the year 2007

Turn around time for Biochemistry and tumor markers is 4 hours, for emergency Biochemical test is 2 hours. Blood gases and glucochek are reported immediately. Housekeeping and waste management is done as per the hospital waste management policy.

Research activities

The laboratory research scenario includes primary interests in Clinical trials with regular publications in national journals. Departmental participation in conferences and continuing medical education programs is also encouraged, thereby fostering greater awareness levels among staff.

Academic activities

The laboratory has an active academic program for M.Sc in Biochemistry.In addition, students from all over the country are provided advanced training as observers. It conducts CME for the technical staff and also sends staff for participation in  national and international meetings.

Candidates who wish to join us as an observer should write to The Dean, PG Studies, TMH with a brief bio-data.

Information for  Professionals

Tests done in the laboratory

Biochemical investigations, tumor markers, protein electrophoresis, immunofixation, blood gases, glucochek and haematology ( WBC,Haemoglobin, Platelet, Prothrombin Time and Partial Thromboplastin time and International normalised tests ratio.) Turn around time for hematology test is 30th minites, for Biochemical and tumor marker  is 4 hours, for emergency biochemistry test reporting is 2 hours.

Blood collection is done at following stations

1. Out-patient department (OPD)

a) Room No. 32, Private OPDs, Main Building
    Biochemical and tumor markers of Private OPD patients.   
    Working hours: 7.30 AM - 1:30 PM. & 2.0 P.M.- 3.30 P.M.
    Telephone extension: 4174

b) Room No. 157, Basement, Golden Jubilee Building
    Biochemical and tumor marker of general OPD patients.  
    Working hours: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
    Telephone extension: 4503

c) Room  No. 11, Third Floor,Service Block Building
    Biochemical and tumor markers of preventive oncology patients and     staff members
    Working hours: 9:00 AM - 12.15 PM.
    Telephone extension: 4633

2. Indoor patients (Wards and ICU)

Emergency lab, OT complex, Second Floor, Main Building Functions round the clock. Tests done are biochemistry & hemotology ( WBC, Haemoglobin, Platelet, Prothrombin Time and Partial Thromboplastin time and International normalised ratio) tests 5.30 PM - 8.30 AM. Telephone extension : 4040

Common procedures performed

1. Blood collection

Sample collection is done by trained scientific officers, scientific assistants, phlebotomists, technicians and nurses.

Venous blood is collected in prevaccumed  closed collection system.

Capillary method (finger prick method)

While collecting blood sample the operator wears disposable thin rubber gloves. Care is taken to prevent injuries when handling syringes, needles and safety flow lancets. Heparinsed capillary tubes  are used for blood collection by finger prick method in our laboratory. The phlebotomist selects the puncture site (finger) and cleans it with spirit and allows the site to dry. Then he will puncture the skin with appropriate lancet and dispose off lancet in an appropriate sharp container. Phlebotomist will wipe out first drop of blood with gauze and then fill the tube to required volume. Microtape / sticker are applied at the puncture site.

Sample collection by finger prick method for blood gas is done in Room Number 95, Second Floor, Main Building.

Arterial Blood Gas –

Collection is done by doctors

Phlebotomy

The blood is withdrawn from the forearm vein. Prevaccummed tubes, needles and holders are used together as a system for the collection of venous blood. Tubes may contain anticoagulants in varying concentrations depending upon the amount of vacuum and the required additives to blood ratio for the tube. The vacuum controls the amount of blood which enters the tube ensuring an adequate specimen for the subsequent tests and the correct proportion of anticoagulant when this is present. EDTA vacutainers are used for routine hemogram testing & glycosylated haemoglobin. Similarly samples are collected in respective containers for Biochemistry, Microbiology and other tests.

The skin is cleaned with spirit and allowed to dry before being punctured. Phlebotomist wears gloves during venipuncture and when handling blood collection tubes to minimize exposure hazard. The Phlebotomist selects site for venipuncture, applies tourniquet, prepares venipuncture site with appropriate antiseptic. Thereafter phlebotomist places patients arm in downward position, remove the needle shield, and performs venipuncture. Tourniquet is removed as soon as blood appears in the tube. When the first tube has filled to its stated volume and blood flow ceases, it is removed from the holder. Used needles and syringes are disposed using an appropriate disposal device. Micro tape /sticker are applied at the puncture site.

Haematology tests are done from 8.00 p.m.- 8.00 a.m. Telephone extension: 4040