DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY
Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences & Research (HIMSR), Jamia Hamdard
New Delhi – 110062
Overview
The Department of Microbiology, HIMSR, Jamia Hamdard was established in 2011 and has grown into a dynamic centre for academics, research, and diagnostics. The department covers the full breadth of medical microbiology – bacteriology, virology, parasitology, mycology, immunology, and molecular biology – and is equipped with advanced diagnostic, research, and teaching infrastructure serving medical and paramedical students, faculty, and patients.
A committed team of faculty drives the department’s mission: to train future clinicians and researchers in the science of infectious diseases, to provide high-quality diagnostic services to the hospital, and to contribute meaningfully to national public health programmes.
Academic Programmes
The department offers a comprehensive range of academic programmes:
- MBBS (Undergraduate) – 150 seats | Core microbiology teaching and practicals
- MD in Microbiology (Postgraduate) – 3 seats per year
- MSc. in Medical Microbiology – 8 seats | Established 2015
- PhD in Medical Microbiology – 2 seats | Research programme initiated 2014
Research & Publications
Faculty members have published numerous research articles in indexed national and international journals and have presented their work at national and international conferences, including award-winning oral and poster presentations. Collaborative research spans multiple disciplines, with ongoing work in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), infection prevention and control, molecular diagnostics, and clinical microbiology.
The department is supported by a high-end research laboratory and a dedicated departmental library, providing the infrastructure for cutting-edge investigative work.
Diagnostic Facilities
The department operates seven laboratories at HAH Centenary Hospital, equipped to the highest standard. Services range from routine microbiological procedures to advanced molecular diagnostics.
| NABL Accredited: All seven laboratories of the Department of Microbiology are accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), affirming adherence to the highest standards of quality, accuracy, and reliability in diagnostic testing. |
1. Culture & Sensitivity – Bacterial Infections
- Blood Culture: Automated BacT/Alert system (240-module), delivering reliable results within five days.
- Culture & Sensitivity Testing: Available for urine, CSF, pus, tissue, stool, sputum, aspirates, throat swab, HVS, and other clinical specimens.
- Antimicrobial Sensitivity & Bacterial Identification: Fully automated VITEK-2 system for accurate, rapid species identification and susceptibility profiling.
2. Molecular Diagnostics
The department hosts a state-of-the-art BSL-2 molecular biology laboratory with conventional RT-PCR and CBNAAT (GeneXpert) platforms.
- Hepatitis: HBV DNA Quantitative RT-PCR, HCV RNA Quantitative RT-PCR
- Urogenital Infections: HPV DNA RT-PCR
- Respiratory Infections: FLU RSV CBNAAT
- Dengue: Dengue Serotype RT-PCR
- Tuberculosis: MTB GeneXpert (CBNAAT)
3. Tuberculosis Diagnostics
The department operates a Government of India-sponsored Designated Microscopy Centre (DMC), offering tuberculosis diagnostics entirely free of cost. Services include sputum microscopy (DMC-AFB Stain, Fluorescent Microscopy-AFB) and molecular diagnosis via MTB GeneXpert, in line with national NTrCP guidelines.
4. HIV Counselling & Testing – FICTC
The department runs a NACO-approved Facility Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (FICTC), providing confidential HIV testing and counselling services.
5. Fungal Diagnostics
Diagnosis of superficial, deep, and systemic fungal infections through KOH Mount, India Ink Examination, and Fungal Culture.
6. Parasitology
The Parasitology laboratory identifies intestinal, blood, superficial, and other parasitic infections including Stool Examination R/M, Malaria Serology, and Mantoux Test.
7. Sero-Diagnosis
The serology laboratory is equipped with both ELISA and the fully automated ELFA-based VIDAS system:
| Slide / Rapid Card | ELFA-Based (VIDAS) | ELISA-Based |
| CRP | HIV | Dengue NS1 |
| RA Factor | HCV | HBsAg |
| ASO | HBsAg | |
| HIV | COVID IgG/IgM | |
| HCV | HEV | |
| HBsAg | HAV | |
| RPR | ||
| Widal | ||
| Dengue NS1 | ||
| Dengue IgG/IgM | ||
| Malaria Antigen |
Complete Scope of Services
The following is the full list of tests performed by the Department of Microbiology at HAH Centenary Hospital, with accepted sample types and turnaround times (TAT):
| Sl. No. | Test Name | Sample Type | TAT |
| 1 | AFB Culture | Pulmonary / Extra pulmonary samples | 6 weeks |
| 2 | Albert Staining | Throat swab | 6 hours |
| 3 | ASO Titer (Anti-Streptolysin O) | Serum | 12 hours |
| 4 | Blood Culture and Sensitivity | Blood | 5 days |
| 5 | C-Reactive Protein | Serum | 12 hours |
| 6 | Culture and Sensitivity (Aerobic) | Mention sample | 48-72 hours |
| 7 | Dengue Serology IgM & IgG | Serum | 12 hours |
| 8 | Dengue NS1 | Serum | 12 hours |
| 9 | Dengue Serotype RT-PCR | Serum | 48 hours |
| 10 | DMC-AFB Stain | Pulmonary / Extra pulmonary samples | 24 hours |
| 11 | Fluorescent Microscopy-AFB | Pulmonary / Extra pulmonary samples | 24 hours |
| 12 | Fungal Culture | Any sample | 4 weeks |
| 13 | Gram Staining | Sputum / CSF / PF / AF / SF / Pus / other body fluids | 24 hours |
| 14 | HCV Ab | Serum | 12 hours |
| 15 | HAV IgM | Serum | 12 hours |
| 16 | HBsAg | Serum / Plasma | 12 hours |
| 17 | HBV DNA Quantitative RT-PCR | Serum / Plasma | 48 hours |
| 18 | HCV RNA Quantitative RT-PCR | Serum / Plasma | 48 hours |
| 19 | HEV IgM | Serum | 12 hours |
| 20 | HPV DNA RT-PCR | Cervical brushing / swab | 48 hours |
| 21 | HIV 1 & 2 Ab | Serum | 12 hours |
| 22 | FLU RSV CBNAAT | Nasopharyngeal / Oropharyngeal swab | 48 hours |
| 23 | India Ink Examination | CSF | 6 hours |
| 24 | KOH Mount (For Fungal Elements) | Any sample | 24 hours |
| 25 | Malaria Serology | EDTA Whole Blood | 12 hours |
| 26 | Mantoux Test | – | 48-72 hours |
| 27 | MTB GeneXpert | Pulmonary / Extra pulmonary samples | 48 hours |
| 28 | Rheumatoid Factor (RA) | Serum | 12 hours |
| 29 | Stool Examination R/M | Stool sample | 12 hours |
| 30 | Stool Hanging Drop Examination | Stool sample | 6 hours |
| 31 | Stool Reducing Sugar | Stool sample | 6 hours |
| 32 | Stool pH | Stool sample | 6 hours |
| 33 | Stool Occult Blood | Stool sample | 6 hours |
| 34 | Typhi-dot | Serum / Plasma | 12 hours |
| 35 | VDRL / RPR | Serum / Plasma | 12 hours |
| 36 | Widal | Serum | 12 hours |
| 37 | Water Culture | Water samples | 48-72 hours |
National Health Programmes
- NTrCP / RNTCP: Designated Microscopy Centre (DMC) for free TB diagnostics at HAHC Hospital, in collaboration with the Department of Community Medicine.
- NACO: FICTC laboratory for HIV testing and counselling.
- Infectious Disease Surveillance: Ongoing microbiological surveillance of communicable diseases in collaboration with district health authorities.
Core Competencies
- Undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in medical microbiology using innovative, evidence-based methods.
- High-throughput clinical diagnostics: bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, virology, serology, and molecular assays.
- Hospital Infection Prevention and Control (IPC): active participation in the IPC committee and biomedical waste management.
- Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): surveillance, antibiogram analysis, and stewardship support.
- Research: collaborative projects with internal departments and external institutions, with publications in indexed national and international journals.
- Community Outreach: public health awareness campaigns, CMEs, symposia, and educational materials.
Head of Department
Dr. Rachna Tewari
Professor & Head of Department
Email: hod.microbiology@himsr.co.in
