Services Offered

Quality Reports with timely, quality laboratory testing and services that help provide improved and dedicated patient health care is PRAGATHI's primary policy. Our Customers include patients, physicians, business associates, hospitals, and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Accompanied by PRAGATHI's commitment is the expertise in the fields of Biochemistry, Hematology, Serology, Molecular Biology, Microlbiology, Histopathology and Cytogenetics, services ranging from determining Rh type to Genetic counselling. In addition are provided new launch of laboratory tests by development , validation and verification.

Human pathology has been one of the keystones to medicine and rightly so at PRAGATHI. Pathology and Laboratory Medicine provide state-of-the-art diagnostic and testing services. Listed below are the various Departments of PRAGATHI CRL(Clinical Reference Laboratory) and the various services and techniques, they provide.

Hematology

• Hematology provides you a complete range of advanced testing capabilities to support Clinical diagnosis
• Lead by an experienced Pathologist with competent senior technologists and technicians to man the laboratory
• A complete range of advanced testing capabilities to support Clinical diagnosis
• Committed to the latest and most trusted methods of testing to guarantee the accuracy and quality of each specimen analysed
• Highest quality of reports to patients by automating key steps in pathology, ranging from specimen identification to world-class reports
• Further classified into specialized groups that focus on Routine tests, Flow Cytometry, Coagulation studies and HPLC for diagnosis of Thalassemic-Hemoglobinopathies
• Involved in various activities which include dignosis of Immunophenotyping, CD4 enumeration, Thalassemia, Hemophilia, Thrombophilia, Leukemia, Lymphoma etc
• Counselling for cases of Thalassemia provided

Microbiology

• Hematology provides you a complete range of advanced testing capabilities to support Clinical diagnosis
• Clinical Microbiology , most complex field of sciences with dedicated interpretative acumen for diagnosis
• Team of proficient scientists which includes postgraduates in Medical Microbiology guided by a team of experienced Clinical Microbiologists
• Experienced in taking critical decisions regarding nature of isolated organisms, their pathogenic nature depending on site, quantity of the organisms isolated, special techniques required for maximum recovery of pathogens
• Department provides various techniques in Microscopy, Routine bacteriology and susceptibility testing, blood culture Mycology, Yeast and Mould identification, Mycobacteriology and Mycobacterial Drug Susceptibility testing

Techniques provided

Microscopy : Direct microscopic examinations offered for samples reveal gross pathology. Gram stain, AFB stain, KOH mount, India ink stain offered , giving the treating clinician an idea on suspected organism.

Routine bacteriology and susceptibility testing:

• Cultures incubated on select media at optimal temperatures and in appropriate conditions, recovery of pathogens. Semiquantitative cultures performed for Urine, BAL, and ET secretions ,quantitation predictions whether organism is considered as pathogenic or normal flora. Post incubation, supportive and differential agar cultures of specimens studied for colony morphologies suggestive of pathogenic bacteria, nature of which varies depending on type of specimen and source of specimen
• Blood culture atuomation
• Increased sensitivity, lag / log phases, antibodies dilution & rapid detection.
• Pathogens for which antimicrobial therapy is not predictable are tested for susceptibility to antimicrobials using the best possible system for that organism / antimicrobial agent combination according to latest CLSI guidelines and drugs grouped as first-line, second-line and supplemental drugs to provide better guidance of antimicrobial therapy to the clinician
• E test, special antimicrobial susceptibility testing done for special organisms

Mycology : Routine fungal cultures: special and selective media which suppress the growth of saprophytes, most pathogenic fungi are recovered from clinical specimens

Yeast and mould Identification : Moulds are identified based on visual morphology, growth temperature, and other characteristics

Mycobacteriology :

• Direct microscopic exam with fluorescent stain & ZN stain performed routinely for AFB
• Culture and identification of mycobacteria using both liquid and solid media; Microbiology uses two media, both solid and liquid media for better detection of Mycobacteria from pulmonary & non pulmonary samples
• Automated broth incubation system for detection of mycobacterial cultures monitored hourly for better positivity and quicker detection
• Positive isolates identified by Microscopy and a rapid method to provide a quicker result

Drug susceptibility Testing : M. tuberculosis complex isolates are tested for sensitivity to first-line and second-line drugs with MGIT instrument.

Molecular Biology

• State-of-the-art instruments and laboratory design at PRAGATHI
• Provides a wide range of diagnostic assays for infectious markers and non infectious disease diagnosis and monitoring like cancer markers
• Team comprises of experienced PhD from reputed institutes and postgraduates in biotechnology and microbiology,headed by a Clinical Microbiologist. Meaningful diagnostic reports with holistic approach towards patient, taking into account all laboratory parameters and clinical picture
• Provides both prognostic and diagnostic markers for diseases like HIV, HBV, HCV and AML, Ankylosing spodylitis and cervical cancer to name a few using well characterized and validated equipment and reagents
• TB
• HSV
• CMV etc

Techniques

• Molecular Mycobacteriology
• Direct Mycobacterium tuberculosis detection by real-time PCR:

Real-time PCR for detection of M. tuberculosis complex and Non tuberculous mycobacteria targeting IS6110 and 16S rRNA gene, performed on clinical specimens. Automated extraction systems for extraction of mycobacterial DNA rather than genomic DNA that increases sensitivity. All samples subjected to homogenization and decontamination by standard procedures. All pulmonary samples additionally subjected to culture to increase specificity sensitivity of test

• Direct detection of Mycobacteria and MDR and XDR detection by PCR:

Genotypic susceptibility testing for Rifampicin and Isoniazid as well as fluoroquinolone and injectable drugs, performed by line probe assay. Assay for direct detection of Mycobacteria and their resistance to Rifampicin and Isoniazid from clinical samples by PCR followed by reverse hybridization

• Molecular Microbiology

Quantitation of blood borne pathogens (HIV, HBV and HCV). State of the art equipment for quantitation of infectious viruses using CE / IVD marked kits for monitoring of antiviral treatment. Kits validated at lab for sensitivity, accuracy, etc.. Detection of HLA B27, Factor V- Leiden mutation, Jak 2 mutation, BCR ABL quantitation, HCV Genotyping

Serology

• An entire range of Infectious and autoimmune markers
• Team comprises of Post graduates in Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology with experience in diagnostic field, headed by a Microbiologist
• Assays performed under strict quality controlled environment, using well defined methods and reagents. Performance of reagents verified and validated before patient sample testing, with an ultimate goal of offering quality reports to Patient Clinical interpretative services and consultation provided at all times to help clinicians provide better patient care
• Esoteric tests offered like SSA, SSB, SCl 70, LKM1, Western blot, ANA line blot, Chlamydia, Scrub typhus,Chikungunya to name a few in autoimmunity and infectious diseases, on manual and automated platforms such as CMIA technology, ELISA and Immunofluorescense

Cytogenetics

• Quality reporting for over 12 years. Highly qualified team of medical practitioners, academicians and experienced Medical Scientists, headed by a experienced Medical Cytogenetist with overwhelming knowledge on Genetic Counseling
• In clinical setting, chromosome abnormalities, a major category of medical genetic disorders, account for a large proportion of cases involving individuals referred with congenital malformations, developmental delay, mental retardation, or infertility; women with gonadal dysgenesis; spontaneous abortuses, and couples with repeated spontaneous miscarriages
• Diagnosis and evaluation of patients with hematologic / oncologic disorders. Classification of disease, determining treatment regimens and to monitor disease status and recovery
• Fluorescent in-situ hybridization technique (FISH)technique for BCR / ABL, Her2 / neu and Prenatal diagnosis in amniotic fluid. FISH that allows DNA sequences to be detected on metaphase chromosome or in interphase nuclei of fixed cultured or uncultured cytogenetic samples. Technique uses DNA probes to hybridize entire chromosomes or single nuclei sequences, and serves as powerful adjacent to classic Cytogenetics

Histopathology / Cytopathology

• Run by highly experienced and expert qualified team of Pathologists and technical staff
• Equipped with tissue processing automation, Microtomy, embedding station, Cytocentrifuge, LBC system
• Robust quality assurance system in place for H&E section, all Histochemistry stain, PAP stain and Immunohistochemistry staining that scores excellent in the national EQAS system as well as CAP PT programs
• Identifying robust quality indicators and implementing CAP universal protocols in all oncopathological specimen reporting
• Extended panels and IHC antibody markers available for diagnosis and prognosis of the cases, especially oncology
• Available consultation for any cases
• Interpretation and consultations enabling best diagnosis and treatment approach by Pathologist. Most cases reviewed by more than one pathologist to provide expert opinion

Biochemistry

• Clinical Biochemistry provides extensive clinical laboratory services in the broad domain of Clinical chemistry, Endocrinology, Maternal Screenings, Cancer Markers, Cardiac Markers, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology
• Equipped with the most advanced, fully automated, state of the art instrumentation from leading international brands like Centaur XP, Immulite 1000, Beckman DxI800, Beckman DxC series, Phadia 250, Bio-Rad D10 HbA1c HPLC, Architech I1000SR, Evolution 1000, Agilent LCMSMS, ICPMS to maneuver advanced analytical techniques like Chemiluminescence (CLIA & CMIA), Electrophoresis, Radial Immunoassay (RIA), Chromatography, Mass Spectroscopy, Spectrophotometry and Nephelometry in addition to manual testing procedures
• The laboratory is navigated by bar-coded, bi-directionally interfaced, intelligent and robust Laboratory Information System (LIS), for least possible sample Turn Around Times (TAT)
• Highly qualified, dedicated, well trained and quality driven workforce, a unique combination of Medical doctors, Scientific staff and a Quality Assurance team, available to consult on assay development and technology transfer to congregate CLIA, CAP, ISO 15189 and NABL 112 guidelines and client specific / unique protocol requirements
• Provides clinical interpretation of laboratory results, advice on utilization of laboratory tests, assists in investigations and monitoring strategies for individual patients
• Close contact with Clinicians, Health care personnel and other Hospitals to ensure practiced guidelines are implemented with prime motto of patient care and client satisfaction, 24 X 7