Microbiology

Under the expert supervision of medical microbiologists, assisted by experienced and skilled medical laboratory technologists, the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology of Islamabad Diagnostic Centre offers State-of-the-Art diagnostic solutions for major infectious disease problems faced by the health care providers in this region.

Culture & Anti-Microbial Drug Susceptibility 
Besides the routine culture and sensitivity of microbial pathogens involved in common infections, both hospital acquired as well as community acquired, Tuberculosis, Salmonellosis (Typhoid), Water-borne Diseases, including Bacteriological exam of drinking water, Sexually Transmitted Infections including Chlamydia, HIV/AIDS and common Fungal infections

Tuberculosis 
In spite of tremendous advances in medical science, precise and early diagnosis of tuberculosis continues to be a major clinical and public health problem in our health care set-up.
IDC has accepted the challenge of providing a rapid, reliable and cost effective diagnosis of both active and latent tuberculosis.

The current range of TB diagnostics at IDC includes:

1. AFB Smear Microscopy

2. Tuberculin Skin Test (TST – Mantoux test)

3. AFB Culture – using BACTEC MGIT 960 Culture System (Becton Dickinson)

4. Interferon Gamma Release Assay – (IGRA) namely T.SPOT-TB & Quantiferon TB GOLD Test

5. Nucleic acid Amplification Tests (NATs) by PCR (GenoType MTBDRplus) which incorporates drug susceptibility against first line  anti-tubercular drugs

6. Rapid (Immunochromatographic – ICT) assays

7. Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA)

Blood culture is performed on VersaTrek TM – a unique high performance blood culture system detecting pressure changes in the headspace of the blood culture bottle secondary to gas consumption/production which ensures shorter reporting time – average 12 hours for preliminary report, coupled with highest recovery of pathogens (>85%) and 25% more positives on day 1, along with optimal neutralization of antibiotics in blood culture sample even if the patient is taking antibiotics.

Besides, IDC is probably one of the very few laboratories in Pakistan which offers antifungal drug susceptibility testing against Candida infections.

Quality Assurance: Authenticity of microbiological investigations at IDC is ensured by a strict internal quality assurance program which is supplemented by regular participation in the EQA Programme of CAP.

IDC Virology:

      1. Viral Hepatitis

For the initial diagnosis of viral hepatitis, IDC offers highly sensitive and specific assays (Abbott CMIA) for all the major types of viral hepatitis including Hepatitis A (IgG and IgM), Hepatitis B complete profile (HBsAg, HBsAb , anti-HBc total and IgM, HBeAg and HBeAb), Hepatitis C Ab and  the water- born Hepatitis E (IgG and IgM).
Hepatitis B and C, the most serious forms of viral hepatitis, not only affect millions of people in our country but have also the tendency to become chronic, leading to serious long term sequelae including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Since both are now virtually treatable in a vast majority of patients, both require molecular diagnosis by PCR, qualitative as well as quantitative to assess the viral load (HBV-DNA and HCV- RNA). With the recent introduction of highly effective oral therapy using Directly Acting Antivirals (DAAs), genotyping, particularly of HCV, has assumed crucial importance.

      2. COVID-19

A dedicated molecular lab for the diagnosis of COVID-19 by Real Time PCR has been functioning right from the beginning of pandemic. PCR is supplemented by test for COVID-19 antigen and antibody by ICR as well as by ELISA.

      3. HIV-AIDS

 Diagnosis by 4^th generation ELISA using HIV I/II ag-ab combo.