Content Provider: Prof. A. K Mukhopadhyay
Introduction
Unlike most of the new disciplines in AIIMS which branched out from a parent
department, the Department of Laboratory Medicine was created by bringing
together three independent hospital service laboratories of AIIMS namely
Clinical Pathology, Clinical Hematology and Clinical Biochemistry, to which
Clinical Microbiology was added and a full-fledged Academic Department was
started in 1988 (For
Evolutionary history:
Photo link). With extensive automation, the instrumentation
continued to serve as its roots and with intensive clinical involvement the
medical audit emerged as its apex.
At present, 137 personnel who include five Faculty members, two Biochemists (Scientist grade III and IV), thirteen residents, five office staff, sixty nine technical persons, forty three attendants constitute the staff strength of this department.
Service:
In the service area, the department caters to AIIMS hospitals and some of its Centers, responding to 500-800 patients from OPDs and Wards to perform about 10-12,000 investigations per day amounting to about 65 lacs (6.5 millions) investigations in a year. The investigations range from routine biochemistry or hemogram to those requiring molecular techniques (PCR, NASBA etc.).
It is involved in Test selection (Pre-test counseling), Test performance and Test interpretation (Post-test counseling) in the area of clinical chemistry, clinical pathology, clinical hematology, and clinical microbiology having respective faculty member in charge of their specialized area.
The department is linked with various National and International Quality Assurance Programs. Internally, the precision of the investigations has been achieved by extensive automation and internal quality assurance. The accuracy is retained by regular calibration of the instrument with appropriate standards.
Education:
The department runs a three-year residency Program leading to MD degree. It also runs Ph.D. program as per rules of AIIMS. Faculties and Scientists are involved in undergraduate and postgraduate lectures, seminars, tutorials and journal clubs. MBBS students come for summer training. BSc. (Hons) nursing students are also taught by the Department. In addition, the department provides training to the doctors as well as to the technical staff from various Universities, National and abroad. The Department also conducts International and National Workshop, CME, Seminar and Conference.
Looking at the rapid strides and expansion in Laboratory Disciplines in Medical Sciences it may not be far in Future, when MD in Laboratory Medicine would constitute basic postgraduate degree in Laboratory Science. The specialties like Histopathology, Cytology, Biochemistry, Hematology, Microbiology and Transfusion Medicine etc. would transform into super specialty offering DM degree in their respective fields.
Research:
The Faculty of the Department attracts funds from various funding agencies and runs projects in their chosen field. The details of Research activities are available in section of research. Alzheimer’s disease, Cardiac risk factors, Typhoid vaccine, Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, Toxoplasmosis, Leishmaniasis, Infections in immunocompromised hosts, Coagulation disorders, Hepatitis, Lipoproteins, Antioxidants and Theoretical research on Consciousness with its relevance to Medicine are some of the important areas of Research.