Laboratory Services

Laboratory Services

LABORATORY SERVICES

PHLEBOTOMY
The whole laboratory is connected to laboratory integrated system (LIS) with bar-code integration for efficient sample tracking.

HEMATOLOGY
The Hematology section is equipped with top of the line leading brands of auto analyzers.

BIOCHEMISTRY & IMMUNOLOGY
This section has state of the art machinery which is totally automated with provision of picking a clot Segregating turbid, icteric sample along with hemolysis.

MICROBIOLOGY
This section is equipped with all the pre-requisites of BSL II Microbiology lab. Automated blood cultures are done on BACTEC machine and all culture and sensitivity is performed observing the latest CLSI guidelines and WHO protocols. MIC’s done where required.

PARASITOLOGY
The Parasitology section is equipped with the leading brands of analyzers.

MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY
Designed and built with biosafety level III, equipped with automated Nucleic acid extractors and real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyzers.

VALUE ADDED SERVICES
• Online reporting facility along with home service facility.
• Stat reporting along with same day reporting.
• Critical tests result reporting on urgent basis.
• Patients and doctors can get help in interpretation of the resultsby direct liaison with our panel of pathologist.

EXCEPTIONAL PATIENT SERVICE
Our team is trained to entertain all patients respectfully and courteously and every effort is made to provide reports quickly. Abnormal results are re-tested free of charge to double-check the accuracy. Furthermore, patients with financial constraints are given exceptional discounts on all laboratory tests. Patients are promptly informed on their respective cell phones about their results.

PATIENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR SAMPLING & SAMPLE COLLECTION

The most important factor in determining the accuracy and reliability of the lab results is proper sampling. To ensure good results, the lab needs to have few things right; right sample taken from the right patient at the right time and transported to the lab timely in the right container, so that the lab can provide right results to the right patient. The reports generated this way ensure quality assurance. It should be noted that many tests require no special preparation but for those that do, please adhere to the provided instructions.

ARTERIAL BLOOD GASES
Take the arterial sample in a heparin zed syringe and immediately transport to the lab in an ice pack. Make sure that the lab should receive sample within 15 mints of acquiring the sample.
Please avoid removing air from the syringe.

FASTING LIPID PROFILE
For lipid profile, 9-12 hours overnight fasting is recommended. The patient should not take any food or drink except water. Please avoid alcohol, smoking and strenuous exercise before blood collection.

FASTING PLASMA GLUCOSE
For Fasting plasma glucose, 8-10 hours fasting is recommended. Please do not eat or drink anything other than plain water during the fast. Prolong fasting may produce erroneous results. If you have diabetes, please have your blood sample collected before taking the morning dose of medicine and / or insulin.

75G ORAL GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST
Please report to lab after an overnight fast of 8-10 hours preferably early morning between 8am-9am. The patient should not be taking any anti diabetic agents or steroids. Please avoid giving sample during times of physical or mental stress, acute illness or after strenuous exercise. Please avoid caffeine and smoking.

HORMONES AND SEROLOGY
No specific patient preparation is required. Preferably early morning fasting sample should be drawn. For serology, sample could be drawn at any time of the day. For patients on hormonal replacement, sample should be drawn prior to the morning dose. For evaluation of S. TSH after initiation of therapy, please wait at least 6 weeks before retesting. For work-up of subfertility in females, samples of FSH and LH should be drawn on second day of the menstrual cycle.

It is best to avoid hormonal testing during times of stress, acute illness or fever.

SERUM VITAMIN B12, FOLATE AND IRON STUDIES
No specific patient preparation is required. It is best to avoid serum ferreting testing during times of stress, acute illness or fever. Blood transfusion and drug history, if any, should be informed.

SERUM CORTISOL LEVELS
If serum cortical is requested by your physician, you may be asked to have your blood drawn in the morning or evening cortical testing may be advised in blood or urine as per physician request.

URINALYSIS AND/OR CULTURE
Obtain a sterile container from the laboratory
Avoid touching the insides of the container and/ or lid in order to maintain sterility.
Before giving sample, please wash your hands and genital area with soap and water.
Allow the initial stream of urine to pass in toilet and then collect mid-stream urine into the sterile container.
The specimen should be brought for testing as soon as possible (within 2 hours).

STOOL FOR OCCULT BLOOD AND / OR ANALYSIS
Diet and drugs may affect results of occult blood testing. Please talk to your physician before making any changes in diet or medication prescribed for you. Collect a separate sample from three different stools usually on consecutive days. Each stool specimen should be collected into a clean container and should not be contaminated with urine or water. Deliver the specimen to laboratory as soon as possible (within 2 hours).

24 HOUR URINE SPECIMEN
Do not add anything to the container but urine. Do not pour any powder or liquid/ water in the collection container. The container should be kept covered in cool dry place during collection.

Upon arising in the morning, urinate in toilet. Do not collect this sample. Afterwards, collect all voided urine in the collection container for the next 24 hours. Urine passed during bowel movements and overnight should be collected in the container carefully. At exactly the same time next morning, void in the collection container and take the sample to the lab as soon as possible.

SPECIALIZED TESTING, DYNAMIC FUNCTION TESTING AND TOXICOLOGY
Please consult the laboratory for information.

MIDSTREAM URINE COLLECTION
1. This test can be performed any time of the day however it is preferable to do it in morning.
2. Clean the genital area thoroughly with soap and water and dry.
3. Collect sample in sterile container provided by the laboratory,
4. Collect clean catch mid-stream urine. This is done discarding the first portion of flowing Urine and only collecting the middle portion without stopping the stream.
5. Collect at least 10ml.
6. Specimen must be sent to laboratory as soon as possible.

COLLECTION OF FEACES
1. Pass stool sample in a container provider by the laboratory.
2. Fill up to one third of the container.
3. Transport to the laboratory as soon as possible.
4. In case of suspicion of parasitic infection at least 3 stool samples collected on different days is recommended,

COLLECTION OF SPUTUM
• Clean mouth by gargling with water.
• Ask the patient to cough deeply.
• Collect in sterile container provided by the laboratory.
• Ensure no food particles are present in the specimen.
• Ensure at least 1 ml is collected.
• Specimen must be sent to laboratory as soon as possible

Red Top
The red bottle is less common Ht is used for biochemistry tests requiring serum
• Additive: None or contains silica particles which act as clot activators.
• What additive does: Clot activator promotes blood clotting with glass or silica particles.

Yellow Top
• Additive: anticoagulant SPS (Sodium Polyanethol sulfonate) & ACD (acid citrate dextrose)
• What additive does: Prevents the blood from clotting and stabilizes bacterial growth.
• Laboratory Uses Blood and bodily fluid cultures (HLA, DNA, Paternity)

Light Blue Top
The blue bottle is used for hematology tests involving the clotting system, which require inactivated whole blood for analysis.
• Additive: Sodium Citrate
• What additive does: Binds and remove calcium to prevent blood from clotting
• Laboratory uses Coagulation (clotting process-P.T) PT (Prothrombin Time-evaluates the extrinsic system of the coagulation cascade APTT/ PTT (Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time-evaluates the intrinsic system of the coagulation cascade & monitors heparin therapy)
FDP (Fibrinogen Degradation Products)
TT (Thrombin Time)
Factor assays

Green Top
This less bottle is for biochemistry tests which require heparinised plasma or whole blood for analysis.
• Additive: Heparin (Sodium/Lithium/Ammonium)
• What additive does: Inhibits thrombin formation to prevent clotting
• Laboratory uses Chemistry Testing (Plasma determinations in chemistry): ammonia, carboxyl hemoglobin & STAT electrolytes, chromosome screening, insulin, rennin and aldosterone. All Specialized chemistry tests hormones & Markers

Lavender/ purple Top
These bottles are generally used for hematology tests where whole blood is required for analysis.
• Additive: EDTA (Ethylene di amine tetra acetic Acid)
• What additive does: Removes calcium preventing clotting of blood
• Laboratory uses Hematology testing (ESR, CBC w/diff., HBA1c), blood film for abnormal cells or malaria parasites, reticulocytes, red cell foliate, Mono spot test for EBV, parathyroid hormone (PTH)

Grey
• Additive: Potassium oxalate and Sodium fluoride
• What additive does: Sodium fluoride acts as an antiglycolytic agent to ensure that no further glucose breakdown occurs within the sample after it is taken. Potassium oxalate removes Calcium and acts as an anticoagulant.
• Laboratory uses Chemistry testing, especially glucose(sugar) and lactate, Glucose tolerance test (GTT)

Royal Blue
• Additive: Sodium Heparin Also Sodium EDTA
• What additive does: Inhibits Thrombin formation to prevent
• Laboratory uses Chemistry trace elements (such as Zinc, Copper, Lead and Mercury), toxicology, and nutritional chemistry testing

Black
• Additive: Sodium Citrate
• What additive does: Forms calcium salts to remove calcium
• Laboratory uses pediatric ES