Our Department of Microbiology is a leading laboratory in our region,
combining both conventional and automated microbiology techniques to ensure high sensitivity and accuracy of all our results. Furthermore, because most microbiological techniques require high level of manual expertise, our local technicians are trained and tested continuously in order to maintain and update their skills.
The Department of Microbiology at MDC is able to perform culture and identification of all types of bacteria, yeast, mold, and mycobacteria. For safety reasons all of these tests are performed in class-II biosafety cabinets. Moreover, for quality control of all our bacteriological media and reagents we use ATCC (American Type Culture Collection) bacterial strains. We use many reagents, machines, equipments and techniques of leading companies in according to most recent WHO guidelines. You can find a small overview of some of our used machines and techniques below.
TB identification and susceptibility testing for first and second line drugs are
performed simultaneously using BD BACTEC MGIT 960 System. MGIT (Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube) is an instrumented growth system. It is a fully automated system detecting positive samples faster than other systems and conventional methods. Other systems and media takes about 4 to 6 weeks to detect growth, whilst MGIT provides result within a few days (Minimum 4 days/Maximum 12 Days). Since this method can recognize the presence of TB Bacilli much more quickly than conventional culture, it can help diagnose and treat the disease at an earlier stage and has the potential to help control the spread of infectious TB. The BACTEC MGIT 960 System uses MGIT media and sensors, making efficient use of advanced fluorometric technology, which permits highly accurate detection of TB without using sharps and radiometric elements. All TB tests at MDC are performed in Biosafety level 3 laboratory..
Blood cultures are performed using Bactec 9240, a fluorogenic, automated,
and noninvasive blood culture system from BD Microbiology System, for high sensitivity and to minimize chances of contamination and manual error. This system offers enhanced safety and simplified operation, it delivers excellent performance, media quality and reliability.
Other anaerobic cultures are performed using Oxoid™ Anaerobic Gas Generating Kit and System. For quick and accurate identification of a broad spectrum of more than 400 of medically important organisms, including anaerobes, coryneform gram-positive bacilli, enterics, nonfermenters, streptococci, and yeast, RapIDTM (Rapid Identification system) from Remel is used at the Department of Microbiology at MDC.
Finally, Concentration Technique and Trichrome Staining are used for accurate identification of all fecal parasites.
