Laboratory
The LARC laboratories are maintained at BS level II diagnostic standard consisting of various divisions. All divisions are provided with controlled room temperature and humidity along with dust control and clean environment. Laboratory division comprises of technical staff to carry out the diagnostic tests and a safety team to monitor and manage the current laboratory activities.
The laboratory division of LARC is mainly involved in conducting in-house diagnostic tests only for the vivarium animals to maintain it as a SPF (Specific Pathogen Free) facility. The diagnostic routine comprises of both the facility environmental surveillance for Bio-contamination and Health monitoring for the detection of pathogens in the vivarium animals. The panel of pathogens and the frequency of testing are decided based on FELASA recommendations. The laboratory section has dedicated and experienced staff of microbiologist, molecular biologist, technologists headed by Lab Manager to carry out all the routine diagnostic tests.
LARC Lab provides the following services for the vivarium
- Environmental monitoring
- Water Testing
- Microbiological Testing
- Health monitoring (Pathogen Detection)
- Microbiology
- Serology - ELISA
- Real time PCR
- Histopathology
- Parasitology
Clinical and Histopathology Laboratory
Clinical Biochemistry & Hematology
The clinical section of the laboratory division is equipped with the state of the art equipment for conducting Biochemical, Hematological and Physiological analysis of animal samples. The hematological analysis is mostly focused on analyzing the blood cells to diagnose the diseases. Basic blood cell count, white blood differential and platelet counts are obtained in addition to the more specialized tests. The Biochemical analysis covers urine and body fluids by urinalysis and biochemical tests such as glucose, lipid, AST, ALT etc.
VetScan Hematology Analyser is specialized automated system to quantify the blood cell counts/ hematocrit levels to assess the health of the animal.
Randox Biochemistry Analyzer is fully automated machine capable of performing Biochemical analysis of serum/plasma, urine and etc. It is mainly designed for the diagnostic testing of Veterinary samples and research.
Histopathology
The Histopathology lab prepares slides from the tissues of surgical biopsies and post-mortem animal samples. Tissues are fixed in formalin and paraffin blocks are prepared by tissue embedding system and sectioned by sophisticated microtome machine. Immunohistochemistry analysis is also being employed for all type of tissue samples.
Thermo Tissue Embedding and Cooling System consist of convenient, quick and semi-automatic paraffin based embedding system. The unit comprises tissue holding tank, cooling pad, paraffin reservoir, controlled dispenser with magnifier. The work station has comfortable work space with
improved quality and able to reduce the errors.
Thermo automatic rotary Microtome is designed for precision and stability to cut paraffin tissue blocks in to various size and width. It comprises four different cutting modes with manual foot pedal control. It is mainly used for all the applications in clinical, research and diagnostic samples.
Microbiology Laboratory
The microbiology section is focused on both the environmental monitoring and screening of laboratory animal for specific panel of bacterial pathogens. Analysis of Environmental samples of animal rooms, cages, rack and automated watering system and health Monitoring of laboratory animals are being performed by culture based techniques. Detection of parasites such as protozoan worms and mites are done by microscopic methods. Techniques such as fecal flotation, Skin scraping, vaginal smear etc is also done in this division.
Thermo automatic rotary Microtome is designed for precision and stability to cut paraffin tissue blocks in to various size and width. It comprises four different cutting modes with manual foot pedal control. It is mainly used for all the applications in clinical, research and diagnostic samples.
Zeiss Microscope is used for the basic microbiological applications. Binocular system with LED spot, zoom, height adjustable, mechanical stages with 4 different objectives added advantage to the user.
SL CO2 Incubator is a general purpose microbiological incubator consists of double doored closed jacket, stainless steel panels, digital display with sensitive wide range controlled parameters such as temperature, humidity and CO2 level.
Biosafety Cabinet Class II A2 series is an excellent and an advanced safety cabinet to protect the operator, environment and the research work from low to moderate potential infectious substance. It has a proper light system and digital air flow mechanism with energy efficient operations.
Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory
Health monitoring of vivarium animals from various samples such as blood, serum and fecal pellet is carried out by serological testing and infectious agent’s nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) in the test samples by specific and sensitive molecular methods such as qPCR experiment methods.
The immunodiagnostic analysis of the vivarium animal samples is done by serological testing using ELISA diagnostic method. The test evaluates the titer value of antibodies in body fluids in identifying the immune response of the infected animals.
QuantStutio 6 Flex Real time PCR machine is the ultimate PCR platform for the molecular precision diagnostic methods. It comprises of software based real time molecular analysis can able to perform all nucleic acid based assays along with quick simplified ready to use workflow, predesigned templates, touch screen display and easy data retrieval system.
Syngene Gel documentation system is a automated software based high quality, high performance advanced machine for image capture and analysis of fluorescent gels/ membrane, stain free gels, Chemiluminescent western blots, and protein samples. High resolution CCD digital camera with wide zoom system provides perfect images.
VersaMax™ ELISA Absorbance Microplate Reader-Washer is a fully automated software based system along with automatic multi plate washer. It enables precise and accurate detection at various and multiple wavelength at a time. Fully automated Microplate washer includes various pre-set programs compatible of all types of multi-well plate.
