PGIMER Chandigarh gets an advanced, fully automated haemogram lab

Professor Pankaj Malhotra, head of the Clinical Haematology and Medical Oncology Department at PGIMER Chandigarh expressed happiness at the opening of the haemogram lab.

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh has opened an advanced and fully automated haemogram laboratory to cater to the institute’s heavy workload in the outpatient department.

The lab is fully equipped with the latest instruments to test blood samples, and automatically prepares slides for examination by pathologists. It was unveiled by Professor Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER.

He said, "It was a matter of pride for the institute to have state-of-the-art laboratories that compare with the best in the world, and the administration was in full support of further such advancements that ease the life of patients," as reported by Indian Express.

The new facility is expected to cut down the time for lab test reports to 4 to 6 hours from the previous turn-around time of about 15 hours. The haemogram includes tests like haemoglobin, platelet count, and white blood cell count as well as differential count, reticulocyte count etc. 

"The basic tests are often the most important as they impact the largest number of patients," said Professor Reena Das, head of the Department of Haematology.

PGIMER's haemogram lab details

Apart from the basic tests, the new machines are also equipped with sophisticated features such as fluorescent platelet counts (useful in dengue patients), detection of fragmented red blood cells in microangiopathic anaemia as well as early detection of iron deficiency through reticulocyte haemoglobin content.

The lab is equipped to also detect abnormal cells in patients with infections and blood cancer. This will further enhance the patient care services as well as aid the research activities of the institute.

Professor Pankaj Malhotra, head of the Clinical Haematology and Medical Oncology Department expressed happiness at the availability of even more timely and accurate reports.

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