Microbiology

Microbiology Department at FCDC (Family Care Diagnostic Centre)

This department helps doctors find out what germs (like bacteria, viruses, and fungi) are making people sick. It is run by experts in microbiology and trained lab technologists using the latest technology.

Testing for Infections (Culture & Sensitivity)

• They test for infections caused by bacteria and fungi.
• This includes infections caught in hospitals or from the community (everyday life).
• They check for diseases like tuberculosis, typhoid, water-borne infections, STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) like Chlamydia and HIV/AIDS, and common fungal infections.
• They also test drinking water to make sure it’s free from harmful bacteria.

Tuberculosis (TB) Testing

TB is still a big health problem. FCDC works to diagnose TB early and correctly, using the following methods:

1. AFB Smear Microscopy – Looks for TB germs under a microscope.
2. Tuberculin Skin Test (TST/Mantoux test) – A small injection under the skin to check if someone has been exposed to TB.
3. AFB Culture (BACTEC MGIT 960 system) – Grows TB bacteria in the lab to confirm infection.
4. IGRA (T-SPOT TB & Quantiferon TB Gold) – Blood tests to check for TB infection.
5. PCR (NATs) – A fast and accurate test that also checks which TB medicines will work.
6. Rapid Tests (ICT) – Quick tests using special strips.
7. ELISA – A lab test to detect TB-related immune response.

Blood Culture (to detect blood infections)

• Done using a high-tech machine called VersaTrek.
• This test can detect bacteria in the blood even if the patient is already taking antibiotics.
• It gives fast results (preliminary results in about 12 hours).
• It finds more infections early compared to regular systems.

Fungal Infection Testing

• FCDC is one of the few labs in Pakistan that can test which antifungal medicines will work best against Candida (a common fungal infection).

Quality Assurance

• FCDC follows strict quality rules and takes part in international quality programs to make sure results are accurate and reliable.

Virology Department (Testing for Viruses)

1. Viral Hepatitis

• Tests for Hepatitis A, B, C, and E using very accurate machines (Abbott CMIA).
• Hepatitis B and C are serious because they can lead to liver damage or cancer.
• FCDC offers PCR tests to measure how much virus is in the body (viral load) and genotyping (to find out the virus type) which helps doctors choose the best treatment.

2. COVID-19

• A special lab is used to test for COVID-19 using Real-Time PCR.
• Also offers quick tests for COVID antigens and antibodies using ELISA and other methods.

3. HIV/AIDS

Uses a 4th generation ELISA test which checks for both the virus and antibodies to give a more accurate result.