Equipped for the Specialties It Serves
All the regular diagnostic tests required for Cardiac & Neuro-sciences are performed at the SSSIHMS-Whitefield laboratory. The laboratory has different sections, each well equipped for that purpose, and together they also carry the investigation load of Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital.
Culture, Identification and Sensitivity
The Microbiology laboratory has the required biosafety cabinets, together with automated bacterial culture (BacT/ALERT) and identification and sensitivity testing equipment (VITEK 2). Rapid, reliable organism identification and antibiotic sensitivity reporting matter particularly in a hospital doing open-heart surgery and neurosurgery, where post-operative infection control depends on them.
Automated Chemistry and Hormonal Profiles
The Biochemistry laboratory is equipped with fully automated biochemistry equipment (floor models), along with a chemiluminescence analyser (Roche Cobas e411) for hormonal profiles. The analysers are interfaced to the Laboratory Information System, so results move to the patient record without manual transcription.
Counts, Coagulation and Tissue Diagnosis
Cell counters, cytospin and coagulation analysers help the Haematology and Clinical Pathology laboratory to perform its investigations accurately and with a short turn-around time — coagulation work in particular being central to cardiac surgery and to patients on anticoagulation.
The Histopathology laboratory is equipped with microtome and cryotome as well as with the required special stains and immunohistochemistry antibodies, allowing tissue diagnosis, including frozen sections, to be reported in-house.
Collection, Testing, Componenting and Storage
The Blood Bank is situated in a spacious area with all facilities for collection from the donors, testing, componenting and storage. Fully automated ELISA processors are used for HIV and hepatitis testing, and the Column Agglutination Technique is used for compatibility testing between donor and patient blood. Components are separated in a closed system using a temperature-regulated centrifuge and a plasma expressor under laminar flow.
When a Test Is Not Done In-House
For a few investigations that are rarely requested for, the department has a tie-up with accredited laboratories from where these investigations are out-sourced. Not only are the in-house facilities provided free of cost to the patient — the hospital provides for the outsourced investigations too.