Department Of Microbiology

Department of Microbiology

We are very proud of our history and the core values that have contributed to our success in the field of laboratory diagnosis. The microbiology department at Dhulikhel Hospital -Kathmandu University Hospital (DH-KUH) has proven to be an appropriate and reliable arm for proper diagnosis of infectious diseases. As a departmental entity, our major concern is the provision of accurate laboratory diagnostic services and effective academic environment.

Mission

Our mission is to provide quality services in the diagnostic area along with highest quality of research and education possible in the interdisciplinary fields of Microbiology and immunology. We ensure our research to be compatible with international standard and provide education for the production of Quality health manpower with indispensable morality.

Services

     1. Laboratory Diagnostic Service:-

• Bacteriology and mycology:-Isolation and identification of infectious agents from various clinical specimens (Blood, Urine, Body fluids, swabs exudative fluid, biopsy etc.) and their Anti-microbial sensitivity testing on routine basis. Molecular detection and identification of tuberculosis has been one of our regular services since 2012.

• Parasitology:-Performing Routine and microscopic examination of stool and urine regularly, whereas special tests are performed whenever indicative.

• Virology:-Various viral diseases are diagnosed by serological investigations so far. We already had facility for molecular detection of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Recently SARS COV- 2 viral RNA has been added and smoothly running since the beginning of COVID 19 pandemic.

• Immunology:-The establishment of the immunology unit is a recent advancement in the department. Almost 40 parameters are included in order to strengthen the diagnostic fraternity of our hospital that includes TORCH profile, Emergency Immunology, Hepatitis Profile and Immunology of infectious diseases.

• Molecular Laboratory:-Acquisition of a modern molecular tool (polymerase chain reaction-PCR) to our diagnostic setting, in 2011 has added an extra critical dimension in the field of infectious disease diagnosis. The establishment of molecular laboratory has certainly widened the range of disease diagnosis along with promising reliability.

Recently PCR is being frequently applied for detection of Mycobacterial DNA and HPV DNA. Besides,         the advent of SARS COV-2, PCR testing (since April 2020 )in our molecular laboratory has accentuated its value during the epidemics. Many more of the molecular parameters are under the phase of acquisition in near future. Some of which are: HCV and HBV viral load, multiplex PCR for STDs etc.

Quality control (QC) is of utmost priority for us. Since September 2007,, external quality control is being addressed in association with National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) and Nepal Tuberculosis Center (NTC). Whereas, internal quality control is assessed on regular basis while performing culture, biochemical tests and microscopy etc.