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Equipment Specification
Pneumatic chute system in sample receiving area
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diagnostic
Microbiology
Department of microbiology focuses on identification of pathogens and their antimicrobial patterns and curbing the infection with advanced precision diagnostics for better clinical Decisions
microbiology@cancerinstitutewia.orgWorking Hours:24/7 processing for all samples. · Routine enquiries: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM.
About the department
The Department of Clinical Microbiology is an NABL-accredited multidisciplinary laboratory covering bacteriology, mycology, virology, mycobacteriology, serology, and hospital infection control. The department provides accurate, precise, and timely diagnosis for cancer patients and supports infection prevention and treatment.
Samples received include blood, body fluids, urine, pus, tissue, sputum, throat swabs, respiratory secretions, pre-operative swabs, and stool.
Our mission
To provide rapid, precise, and advanced diagnostic microbiology services tailored to the unique needs of cancer patients, while mitigating infectious risks, promoting responsible antimicrobial use, and maintaining the highest standards of patient safety.
Why oncology microbiology matters
Infection can become life-threatening quickly in an immunocompromised cancer patient.
Rapid diagnostic pathways are especially important in febrile neutropenia, where hours matter for treatment decisions.
Resistance patterns are monitored because oncology patients may require prolonged antimicrobial courses.
The department works with oncologists, hematologists, and transplant teams on individualized antimicrobial strategies.
Diagnostic equipment
Class II B biosafety cabinet
Laminar airflow
Centrifuge
High-speed centrifuge
Cyclomixer
Incubators
CO2 incubators
BOD incubators
Autoclave
Water bath
Hot-air oven
Microscope
Deep freezer
Laboratory refrigerators
High incubators
PCR
ELISA reader and washer
Colony counter
Laboratory automation and innovation
BacT/Alert automated systems support adult and paediatric blood cultures and mycobacterial culture.
MALDI-TOF supports rapid identification of bacteria, fungi, and mycobacteria from relevant clinical samples.
VITEK 2 Compact supports automated identification and susceptibility testing of bacteria and yeasts.
Abbott CLIA/CMIA supports automated viral-marker and serological testing; the platform name requires final confirmation.
Nested PCR-BioFire panels support simultaneous testing for multiple pathogens from a single patient sample.
Surveillance and infection prevention
The department monitors antibiotic resistance and infection spread across theatres, robotic OT, ICUs, BMT, wards, CSSD, healthcare personnel, biomedical-waste processes, protective isolation areas, positive-pressure air systems, and water supplies. It supports continued education for nursing and paramedical staff, reviews antibiotic policy, and monitors CLABSI, VAP, SSI, and CAUTI.
Academic activities
In-service training for all staff categories.
Observership training for students from outside colleges.
Message from the Head of Department
I, as the Head of the Department, take pride in leading a dedicated team focused on delivering high-quality, accurate, ethical, and patient-centered diagnosis in infection for cancer patients using advanced technologies.
Dr. Packia Nancy R
Assistant Professor and Head
Diagnostic techniques and procedures
The department provides microbiology, infectious-disease serology, molecular diagnostics, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and surveillance cultures.
Microbiology
Infectious disease serology
Surveillance cultures
Sputum collection
Sputum collection
Follow these steps for a good lower-respiratory-tract specimen. Saliva should not be collected.
- Use a sterile, wide-mouth container supplied by the laboratory and labelled with all patient details.
- Collect an early-morning sample because overnight secretions are more likely to contain concentrated pathogens.
- Avoid proprietary mouthwash or gargles that may contain antibacterial substances.
- Brush teeth and gargle with water immediately before collection; remove dentures if applicable.
- Keep the outside of the container clean by placing its rim under the lower lip while coughing up the specimen.
- Produce a deep cough specimen from the lower respiratory tract, not saliva.
- Cap the container tightly. Leaking specimens will not be processed and will need to be recollected.
- Submit the sample promptly rather than leaving it at the bedside.
Midstream urine collection — females
- Wash hands and open the collection cup.
- Clean the external genitalia front and back with water.
- Pass some urine into the toilet first.
- Collect the remaining urine until the cup is half full.
- Flush the toilet and close the urine container tightly.
- Wash hands and hand over the sample.
Midstream urine collection — males
- Wash hands and open the collection cup.
- Retract the foreskin and clean the external genitalia with water.
- Pass some urine into the toilet first.
- Collect the remaining urine until the cup is half full.
- Flush the toilet and close the urine container tightly.
- Wash hands and hand over the sample.
INFECTION PREVENTION & PATIENT CARE
Safety Guidelines & Patient Care
Cancer therapies can weaken the immune system. Our infection prevention and control practices protect patients, visitors, and staff throughout the care journey.
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How infection prevention protects patients
Protective environments
Positive-pressure isolation rooms with HEPA filtration help protect severely immunocompromised patients, including bone-marrow-transplant recipients, from airborne pathogens.
- Protective isolation is used for patients who need additional safeguards.
- Hospital environmental and water surveillance supports a safer care environment.
Surveillance and hand hygiene
The team monitors hospital data and enforces a hospital-wide hand-hygiene programme to detect threats early and reduce the spread of infection.
- Clean hands are one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs.
- Infection trends and resistance patterns are reviewed continuously.
Cleaning and line care
Medical-grade disinfectants, sterilisation protocols, and sterile techniques for central lines, PICC lines, and IV ports help reduce infection risk during treatment.
Antimicrobial stewardship
The Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee brings together infectious-disease physicians, oncology pharmacists, microbiologists, and nurses to support the right antimicrobial, dose, and duration.
- Guidelines are tailored to oncology and haematology patients.
- Prescriptions are reviewed and adjusted as laboratory results become available.
- Resistance patterns are tracked and staff education is provided.
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Patient and visitor guidance
Infection control is a team effort.
Clean your hands
- Use hand sanitizer or soap and water when entering and leaving patient areas.
Stay home when unwell
- If you feel unwell or have a contagious-illness exposure, connect virtually instead.
Follow isolation signs
- Ask the nursing station for the correct protective equipment before entering.
Check before bringing plants or raw foods
- Soil and stagnant water can harbour fungi and bacteria that are dangerous for vulnerable patients.
Treatment options
- Diagnosis
Preventive measures
Clean your hands
Use the alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and water provided at entrances, corridors, and patient rooms when entering and leaving.
Stay home when unwell
Visitors with fever, cough, runny nose, recent contagious exposure, or another illness should stay home and connect with their loved one virtually.
Follow isolation signs
Speak with the nursing station before entering a room with an isolation sign so the correct mask, gown, or gloves can be provided.
Check before bringing plants or raw foods
Ask nursing staff before bringing fresh flowers, plants, or certain raw foods into patient areas because soil and stagnant water can harbour fungi and bacteria that are dangerous for patients with low white-cell counts.
Conditions supported and evaluated
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Conditions evaluated and supported by Microbiology are currently being compiled.
When to visit
- When referred by doctors for diagnosis or investigations
Infrastructure & Technology
Facilities and equipment
Infrastructure
Equipment Specification
Bacteriology room
Biosafety cabinets class II with automations (Vitek 2 compact, MALDI-TOF, BacT Alert)
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Serology Room
CMIA, Latex agglutination, Immuno-chromatography, Tube agglutination, Slide agglutination
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Mycology room
Biosafety cabinet class II with facility for fungal stain and culture, BOD incubators
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Mycobacterium room
Biosafety cabinet class II with facility for AFB staining and culture.
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Media room
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De-contamination room
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Sterilisation room
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Equipment room
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Documentation and File room
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Hospital Information System for Reporting
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Automations Available
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BacT – Alert
Automated blood culture system – a qualitative Microbial detection system used for enhanced recovery and detection of aerobic and facultative microorganisms (Bacteria & fungi) from Blood.
- The BacT /Alert Microbial detection system is used to determine if microorganisms are present in blood taken from a patient suspected of having Bacteremia / Fungemia.
- The BacT /Alert system culture bottles provide both a microbial detection system and a culture medium with suitable nutritional & environmental conditions for organisms commonly encountered in blood infections.
Equipment Specification
VITEK 2 Automated Identification and Susceptibility Testing from Biomerieux, Germany
The VITEK 2 Compact system is dedicated to the identification of bacteria and yeasts and susceptibility testing of clinically significant bacteria.
The system includes the VITEK® 2 Compact instrument, a computer (workstation), and printer. The software provided with the VITEK® 2 Compact system includes analysis and data-management programs.
A bidirectional computer interface transfers results automatically to the user’s laboratory information system (LIS) and to various product and patient reports.
Advanced Expert System of the system automatically provides validation of every susceptibility test result to help clinicians select the most appropriate antibiotic treatment.
The Advanced Expert System signals when results are ready, saving time, and gives an accurate phenotype profile of the bacterial resistance mechanism for each isolate tested, using color-coded indicators.
Advanced Reporting Tool enhances reporting with customization and maximum efficiency, by automatically transferring results, offering alerts for critical results and improving standardization.
Equipment Specification
MALDI-TOF
(Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption / Ionization Time of Flight) mass spectrometry – An Innovation for rapid information on bacteria, fungus & mycobacteria with direct benefits on the patient outcome.
The MALDI Biotyper System identifies microorganisms using MALDI-TOF (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption / Ionization Time of Flight) mass spectrometry to determine a unique proteomic Mass fingerprint of an organism.
Turnaround time – Within half an hour of Growth & Blood culture: Within half an hour of positivity.
When made available for routine testing, these assays could add to the armamentarium of rapid susceptibility tests needed to reduce time to optimal antimicrobial therapy.
With Cancer Institute starting the innovative MALDI TOF Technology for its patients – we become the 1st Charitable Non-Profit Institution in the State to have this – it makes us proud & we understand that Novel Techniques like this would impact on Antimicrobial Stewardship Program as well.
Equipment Specification
Abbott CLIA System for Detection of Viral Markers
The Abbott Chemiluminescent Immunoassay (CLIA) system is a fully automated, high-throughput immunoassay analyzer based on paramagnetic microparticle technology and acridinium-labeled chemiluminescence detection.
It is designed for qualitative and quantitative detection of viral markers, including HBsAg, Anti-HCV, HIV Ag/Ab, and other serological markers.
The system provides high analytical sensitivity and specificity, enabling early detection of viral infections with minimal cross-reactivity.
- Automated sample handling
- Onboard reagent stability
- Real-time quality control
- Barcode-based traceability
- It ensures accuracy, reproducibility, and compliance with laboratory quality standards.
- The Abbott CLIA platform supports continuous random-access testing with reduced hands-on time and rapid turnaround, making it suitable for routine diagnostics, blood screening, and epidemiological surveillance.
Legacy of the department
- The Department shares the legacy of sampling around 90,000 clinical samples of cancer patients and 20,000 surveillance per year
Key achievements
1 Milestones- 01NABL accredited Lab
Academic Excellence & Leadership
Teaching, Training & Academic Leadership
In-service training
- Training is provided for all categories of staff.
Student observership
- Students from outside colleges can receive observership training.
Intellectual Property & Research
Patents, Publications & Innovations
Translational clinical research, patented therapeutic processes, and licensed innovations originating from the department.
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Our Team
Contact Microbiology
microbiology@cancerinstitutewia.orgPhone044-22209150 ext. 116
Working Hours24/7 processing for all samples. · Routine enquiries: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM.
Location2nd Floor, Diagnostic Block, Dr. SKC campus, Cancer Institute (WIA)