NABL accreditation to GMCH Microbiology department

Achievement to make GMCH test reports internationally acceptable 

OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, May 2: The entire lab of the Department of Microbiology at Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) has secured NABL accreditation, making it one of the few public sector labs in the country to be granted such prestigious certification.

“Improving diagnostic and patient care services has been a continuous endeavor of the GMCH. The NABL accreditation of the Microbiology department’s lab is an important step towards his direction. I attribute this achievement to dedication and sincerity of the entire GMCH family particularly the Microbiology department of the hospital headed by dynamic professor Ajanta Sharma,” GMCH Superintendent Ramen Talukdar told The Sentinel on Wednesday.

NABL is an autonomous body that assesses the quality, technical competence and calibration standard of laboratories. NABL evaluates the all-round functioning of the laboratories, including competency and training of authorized signatories and technical staff, functional status and calibration of all instruments and documentation of all activities.

The accreditation process ensures a fool-proof system to generate highest quality output, traceability of the cause for any minor deviation from the system and immediate corrective measures for the same.

Accreditation will make the test reports generated by the Microbiology department of GMCH acceptable internationally. Such development will eliminate the need for re-testing when a patient moves for treatment to other hospital in India or abroad.

In 2014, the entire lab of the Department of Medical Microbiology at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh had secured NABL accreditation, making it the countries first biggest public sector lab to receive such certification.

The Microbiology department of GMCH receives 400 samples every day for microbiological diagnosis of various infectious diseases. The NABL accredited tests of the department include top of the line tests such as real time PCR tests for H1N1, HBV DNA, HCV RNA, Measles and Rubella PCR besides other routine microbiology tests done in various sections like Bacteriology, Serology, Mycology, Virology, HIC testing laboratory and Regional STI.