Faculty

Dr. L.M. Srivastava
(Chairperson)
Dr. Seema Bhargava
Dr. Anjali Manocha
Dr. Mamta Kankra
Dr. Sabari Das

Having started as a low key laboratory where test tubes and burners were used for manual estimation of reducing sugar, urea and creatinine, the Department of Biochemistry is now an accredited full-fledged department which boasts the latest state-of-the-art fully automated random access chemistry analyzers, the first of its kind in South-East Asia which perform a vast battery of tests. 

Over the years, the department of Biochemistry has also developed itself as a research laboratory where-in the research work is continuing basically for updating and reassessing the overall patient care. It is recognised by the Department of Science & Industrial Research, Government of India. It provides commendable back to ongoing research projects of the hospital.

The department conducts both routine and specialized biochemical investigations for the admitted as well as out-door patients attending the hospital. The department is open 24 hours and all routine and specialized tests are performed throughout the day and night. The department interacts actively with clinical colleagues to resolve any discrepancies and tries to find solutions to clinical problems. The facilities of the department are constantly being enhanced, both in terms of quality and inclusion of new parameters for measurement.

The faculty is headed by an ex-professor of Biochechemistry & Head of Department from the AIIMS & ably assisted by a group of competent dedicated faculty. The faculty is constantly in touch with patient care through interaction with the clinicians,. They are involved with national & international conferences and workshops.

The entire laboratory works towards the unannounced motto -- "Perfection in Patient care".

Quality Assurance:

Quality assurance is maintained by monitoring all its aspects, viz. control of pre-analytical errors, analytical errors, post-analytical errors, turn-around time, maintenance of equipment, selection of reagents, standardisation of tests before they are introduced and external quality control assessment. We have an ongoing training programme for the technical staff.

External Quality Control:

Our external quality control programme is through RIQAS, UK every fortnight. Our results have had extremely good scoring. Scores above 100 are considered extremely good and several of our tests have obtained a score of around 100 or above, giving confidence in our estimations. We have also received Quality Certification for the General Clinical Chemistry Programme since 2001 till date.

We have an ongoing internal as well as external quality control programme. Our internal quality control programme is part of our daily routine and the control sera used are procured from international companies like Beckman, Boehringer Biorad and Randox. The results have consistently been good to excellent. Our results have not only been well within the expected range but also very near the mean.

Equipment:

The department possesses the latest and most sophisticated instruments:

• Beckman Synchron LX20 Pro Fully automated chemistry analyzer with ISE electrolyte analysing system

• Beckman Synchron CX5 Pro Fully automated chemistry analyzer with ISE electrolyte analysing system

• DPC Immulite Fully automated Chemiluminescent Immuno Assay System

• D10 Fully automated HPLC System for HbA1c estimation

• Schimadtzu Spectrophotometer

• bio Merieux Mini Vidas based on immunoflorescence for stat cardiac markers

• Gonotec Osmometer

• Gonotec Microbilimeter for assaying total bilirubin in samples collected in capillaries.

• Quantimetrix Lipoprint electrophoretic system for LDL subfractions

All instruments are regularly calibrated. The maintenance of the equipment is through comprehensive maintenance contracts with the suppliers.

Routine Biochemical Tests:

• Diabetes Assessment Tests : Glucose, glucose tolerance tests (GTT), glucose spot test, glycosylated haemoglobin, BUN, creatinine, uriacid, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, chloride, cholesterol, microalbumin in urine.

• Liver Function Tests : Bilirubin (direct and indirect), total protein, albumin, globulin, asparate transaminase (SGOT), alanine transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase, gamma GT.

• Kidney Function Tests : BUN, creatinine, urinary protein, urinary creatinine clearance and random urinary parameters - sodium, potassium, chloride and microalbumin

• Extended Lipid Profile : Total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)].

• Cardiac Enzymes : Creatinine phosphokinase (Total CPK and CK-MB fraction), lactate dehydrogenase

• Anaemia Markers : Iron, TIBC, and Tranferrin

• Immunological Parameters : Immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM, IgE))

• Pancreatic & Intestinal Function Tests : Amylase, lipase, D-xylose excretion.

• Fluids : Urine, CSF, pleural, peritoneal, synovial aspirate, etc. These can be analysed for the routine - glucose, protein, Albumin and chloride and also specialised tests like LDH, Amylase and Immunoglobulins.

Special Tests :

• Cardiac markers : Troponin I (Trop I), High sensitivity CRP (HS-CRP), LDL subfraction electrophoretic profile

• Inflammatory markers : Interleukin 6 (IL6), Tumor necrosing factor alpha (TNF alpha) Procalcitoxin (PCT) - especially beneficial as a prognostic marker for critically ill patients and septicemia in ICU.

• VMA in urine

• Magnesium

• Beta 2 microglobulin

• Ammonia

• Acid phosphatase

• Hormones : Cortisol

• Tumour markers : CEA, PSA, CA 125, CA 19-9, CA 15-3

• Anaemia markers : Folic Acid and vitamin B12, Ferritin

• Homocysteine : A marker for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular as well as peripheral vascular disease.

• Total Antioxidant Status : Assesses preventive capabilities against oxidative damage to various tissues.

• Antibiotics : Gentamycin, Vancomycin and Amikacin for therapeutic drug monitoring.

• Antimetabolities: Methotrexate

Whenever there is any sort of doubt about any sample such as time and type of sampling, drugs being given to the patients, or diagnosis, we collaborate with the clinicians and repeatedly assay the sample till we as well as the clinicians are satisfied with the result.

Every sample is also checked for lipaemia, haemolysis and icterus.

All urgent samples are processed on a priority basis and reported as soon as possible, usually within 2 hours of receiving the sample.

New parameters in the process of being introduced for patient care:

(i) Brain Natriuretic Peptide/Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (BNP/ANP) which is a specific indicator for congestive cardiac failure. BNP is a strong independent predictor of prognosis in patients with heart failure and following myocardial infarction, and is also used to monitor essential and various forms of secondary hypertension.

(ii) Free PSA which is a diagnostic as well as prognostic marker for prostatic carcinoma.

(iii) Lipid Peroxides

Research

The department is actively engaged in research pertaining to clinical aspects of Biochemistry. It is pertinent to mention here that Sir Ganga Ram Hospial has been recognised as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India.

• 16 publications in indexed journals have semanted from this department.

• 10 ongoing research programmes are being actively pursued by the consultant of the department.

• The chairman has edited two books on Biochemistry well received by the Medical Community.

• The chairman of the department has been invited to chair the project report committee in Immunology by the Indian Council of Medical research & also invised to be a member of the Immunology Task Force. He is a member, Board of Studies in Biochemistry by:

  • Institute of Medical Science, B. H.U. Varanasi

  • Himalayan Institute of Medical Science Dehradun

  •  Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj University, Kanpur

• In addition, we have an ongoing PhD programme 

FUTURE PLANS: 

We intend to maintain a high standard of quality through various ongoing programmes of internal as well as external quality control. Older instruments are being replaced by the latest models.

Special tests are being constantly introduced and standardised in the laboratory.

A constant endeavour towards academics is kept going - analysing and publishing the data we have.