Molecular Diagnostics - A Transitioner for Clinicians/Physicians
Rapid diagnosis of the disease and its etiology is critical in the effective treatment and the possible cure of a patient. It is important to reduce the risks of a patient getting sicker while waiting for a correct diagnosis. Therefore, timely detection is crucial in avoiding the spread of the disease which could prove fatal. The sooner the physician is able to determine that a patient is having a disease, the sooner an appropriate treatment can be developed. The traditional diagnostic methods fail to pursue unusual/unknown pathogens, lacking sensitivity and specificity. They are often impeded and cumbersome. Molecular diagnostics plays an instrumental role in improving the antibiotic and antiviral therapy for specific micro organisms. It also eliminates the need for culturing of micro organisms for identification.
Our objective is to provide expeditious and precise diagnostic tests by employing cutting-edge antigen-antibody and nucleic acid based technologies. Our focus on rapid diagnosis of diseases and sophisticated evaluation has necessitated us to use automated molecular diagnostic tools such as RT-qPCR (Real time-Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction), capable of identification and DNA/RNA measurement of infectious pathogens, tumors, and human genes. It allows discrimination of clinically relevant infections characterized by pathogen replication and high pathogen loads from chronic latent infections.
Gene expression profiles and genetic mutations are key parameters used for the molecular characterization of tumors. Altered proteins due to genetic changes, via many signaling pathways, hijack the normal cell communication resulting in uncontrolled tumor growth. The gene and protein activity patterns in different types of cancerous and precancerous cells can be revealed and recorded as expression patterns. These molecular signatures will help patients benefit from the gene-based therapies, thereby saving thousands of lives. We hold expertise in rendering valuable services to facilitate rapid and reliable semi-quantitative and quantitative real-time PCR based prognosis and diagnosis of prevalent and highly incident cancer types.
Molecular diagnostics is fundamental in constant monitoring for the treatment of HIV patients with anti-viral medications, the success of which is determined by HIV-viral load reduction. Minute levels of viral DNA can be identified using highly sensitive molecular assays that are monumental in the determination the patient’s response to the treatment.
The applications and technologies incorporated in our lab for molecular diagnosis will have major implications in treating the diseases more accurately and effectively. Our approach towards early detection will enable effective management of the disease, comprising the select treatments, prevention of further transmission and reduction of inappropriate presumptive antibiotic/antiviral prescription. We undertake diagnosis of genetic diseases and infectious diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, tuberculosis, HIV; breast cancer etc.