World-Class Laboratory Infrastructure

The VITEK® 2 uses specialised identification and susceptibility cards containing biochemical substrates and antibiotics. After a standardised bacterial suspension is prepared from a pure culture, the cards are automatically filled, sealed, incubated, and read. The system continuously monitors bacterial growth and biochemical reactions using optical technology, allowing accurate microorganism identification and determination of susceptibility or resistance to a wide range of antimicrobial agents. This supports appropriate antimicrobial therapy and antimicrobial stewardship programmes.

The instrument utilises magnetic bead technology to efficiently isolate high-quality nucleic acids while minimising manual handling and contamination risk. Automated extraction ensures consistency, reproducibility, and high-quality nucleic acid recovery, making it suitable for downstream applications such as real-time PCR, multiplex PCR, sequencing, and pathogen detection. The system processes multiple samples simultaneously with minimal hands-on time.

The BioFire FilmArray integrates nucleic acid extraction, reverse transcription, PCR amplification, detection, and result interpretation into a single automated workflow. Panels include Respiratory, Blood Culture Identification, Gastrointestinal, and Meningitis/Encephalitis — each identifying numerous pathogens simultaneously. This technology enables rapid diagnosis, facilitates prompt clinical decision-making, improves patient management, supports infection prevention, and reduces unnecessary antimicrobial use.

The Class II Biosafety Cabinet uses HEPA-filtered laminar airflow to maintain a sterile working environment and prevent exposure to infectious aerosols. It is routinely used for specimen processing, bacterial culture, inoculation, preparation of molecular diagnostic samples, and other microbiological procedures involving moderate-risk pathogens. The cabinet is critical for maintaining aseptic technique, preventing cross-contamination, and ensuring compliance with laboratory biosafety standards.

Bacterial isolates are stored in cryovials containing cryoprotective media such as glycerol broth. Storage at −80°C greatly reduces cellular metabolism and preserves bacterial viability, genetic stability, and phenotypic characteristics over extended periods. These freezers are essential for maintaining reference strains, preserving multidrug-resistant organisms for surveillance, storing isolates for future antimicrobial susceptibility testing, molecular characterisation, whole-genome sequencing, and quality assurance activities.

The BacT/ALERT continuously monitors culture bottles for microbial growth by detecting carbon dioxide produced during bacterial or fungal metabolism. Positive cultures are automatically flagged, enabling prompt Gram staining, subculture, organism identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The system significantly reduces the time to diagnose bloodstream infections such as bacteraemia and sepsis, supports timely initiation of appropriate antimicrobial therapy, and enhances laboratory efficiency through continuous automated monitoring.

The VARIANT™ II is an automated High-Performance Liquid Chromatography analyser used to separate and quantify haemoglobin fractions. It is primarily used for the diagnosis and monitoring of haemoglobin disorders such as sickle cell disease and thalassaemia, and for HbA1c testing in diabetes management where applicable. The system provides accurate, reliable, and standardised results, enabling early diagnosis, effective patient management, and improved laboratory efficiency through automated analysis.

The VARIANT™ NBS separates different haemoglobin fractions based on their chemical properties, allowing early identification of conditions such as sickle cell disease and other haemoglobinopathies. The system provides accurate, reliable, and standardised results with minimal manual intervention, making it essential for newborn screening programmes. Early detection enables timely clinical intervention, reducing complications and improving long-term health outcomes for affected individuals. This supports genetic counselling and family planning decisions.

The media autoclave operates by generating saturated steam under pressure, effectively destroying bacteria, viruses, fungi, and bacterial spores. This ensures all materials are free from microbial contamination before use or disposal. The autoclave plays a critical role in maintaining aseptic laboratory conditions, ensuring reliable microbiological testing, preventing cross-contamination, and promoting laboratory biosafety and quality management in compliance with GCP standards.