Microbiology/ Molecular Biology / Virology

• • • • Rifah Lab offers a broad range of the highest quality microbiological testing services for detection, isolation, characterization, and antibiotics susceptibility testing of infectious agents as well as urine and stool analysis.
      • We are equipped with the most advanced testing machines and staffed with experienced microbiologists to serve our customers with the most precise and accurate test results.
      • The unit is equipped with Iris automated system urinalysis microscopy instrumentation which produces shortened TAT with standardized results.
      • By leveraging proprietary Digital Flow Morphology technology using Auto-particle Recognition (APR) software, urine particles are isolated, identified and characterized on the screen to virtually eliminate the need for manual microscopy.
      • We offer a comprehensive range of chemistry, hormones, immunology, tumor markers, vitamins and specific proteins testing for screening, diagnostic, prognostic, and disease monitoring purposes.

Culture & Anti-Microbial Drug Susceptibility 
Besides the routine culture and sensitivity of common pathogens involved in common infections, both hospital acquired as well as community acquired, Rifah Lab offers a comprehensive high-tech diagnostic service for Viral Hepatitis (Hepatitis A, B, C and E), Tuberculosis, Salmonellosis (Typhoid), Water-borne Diseases, Sexually Transmitted Infections including HIV/AIDS and common Fungal infections.

Tuberculosis 
In spite of tremendous advances in medical science, precise and early diagnosis of tuberculosis continues to be a major clinical and public health problem in our health care set-up.
Rifah Lab  has accepted the challenge of providing a rapid, reliable and cost effective diagnosis of both active and latent tuberculosis.

The current range of TB diagnostics includes:

1. 1. 1. 1. AFB Smear Microscopy
         2. Tuberculin Skin Test (TST – Mantoux test)
         3. AFB Culture – using BACTEC MGIT 960 Culture System (Becton Dickinson)
         4. Interferon Gamma Release Assay – (IGRA) namely T. SPOT-TB
         5. Nucleic acid Amplification Tests (NATs) by PCR (Genotype MTBDRplus )
            which incorporates drug susceptibility against first line  anti-tubercular drugs
         6. Rapid (Immunochromatographic – ICT) assays
         7. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent Assays (ELISA)

Blood culture is performed on BACTECTM 9050 – a unique high performance blood culture system based on fluorescent sensor technology which ensures shorter reporting time – average 12 hours for preliminary report, coupled with highest recovery of pathogens (>85%) and 25% more positives on day 1, along with optimal neutralization of antibiotics in blood culture sample even if the patient is taking antibiotics.

Quality Assurance: Authenticity of microbiological investigations at Rifah Lab is ensured by a strict internal quality assurance program which is supplemented by regular participation in the National External Quality Assurance Program (NEQAAP) being run countrywide by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Rawalpindi.

Rifah Lab offers reliable diagnostic services for the infections including HIV/AIDS, Rubella, Herpes simplex (HSV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Dengue etc.