The Department of Clinical Biochemistry offers 24-hour diagnostic support services to the physicians of our hospital. The laboratory is well equipped with state–of-the-art analyzers and technology and is focused on providing laboratory tests to benefit patient care.
The Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory provides an extensive range of testing services to all departments of the hospital by analysing parameters which include routine chemistry tests, multiple immunoassays – hormones, specialised endocrine testing, tumour markers, therapeutic drug monitoring, specific proteins, Down’s screening markers, heavy and trace metals, and some more special assays in blood, urine and other body fluids.
Diseases commonly encountered, like diabetes mellitus, Cardiovascular disease, infertility, thyroid disorders, Kidney disorders, liver & pancreatic disorders, cystic fibrosis, meningitis, etc, can be diagnosed by the examination of blood, urine and other body fluids. These test results are used not only for diagnosing health problems but also for screening & monitoring disease, for prognosis and in guiding the treatment of a patient. Quick processing is done for STAT samples, and critical results are reported immediately.
State-of-the-art Technology
The Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory employs advanced automated equipment operations with the latest technologies, test methods and computer technology that support both routine and urgent testing.
The new technology CCM – Cobas Connecting module, connecting the preanalytics and the analytics for Lab automation, was installed in February 2019, which has improved the TAT for the routine Chemistry tests for OP and IP. Introduction of cutting-edge technologies is an ongoing process in this department, and together with faculty and technicians, accurate, dependable and quality results are delivered with quick turnaround time while maintaining a high degree of quality control. The advanced methods and technologies in use produce a high level of sensitivity and accuracy, diminishing the chance of human error, while yielding reliable results so that good care can be provided to the patient. The lab’s efficient systems enable routine testing on a single tube of blood from a patient for more than 40 different tests.
The department is open and enthusiastic towards introducing new tests. With the laboratory’s level of modernization, new tests are part of the routine work, conducted in our lab. Each test has passed through validation and performance qualification procedures that ensure accurate and consistent results before introduction.
Continual initiatives in the development of automation of equipment and specimen handling over the years have made it possible to handle over 7500 samples per day, and well over 28000 tests per day and on average perform more than 5.5 lakh tests a month.
Laboratory computerisation
The laboratory is computerised to maintain quality throughout all the stages of laboratory workflow. All the automated instruments are linked to the Hospital LAN, allowing online transfer of results. The middleware IT3000 was introduced in 2014 in our lab, followed by the introduction of the Cobas Infinity software in 2022. Connecting all of the automated instruments has improved the data management and helped with added features that have facilitated better results review and error identification, validation and delta check.
Quality control
The department recognises that maintaining a standard with accurate results and efficient turnaround times is crucial for the effective treatment of our patients. Every step of the workflow, from sample receiving to reporting, and every parameter and analyser operated in the laboratory has an SOP (standard operating procedure) which is documented, to avoid inaccuracies due to deviant processing.
Commercial Internal quality controls and in-house QC samples are incorporated into the daily routine for each test, which ensures that test systems and reagents are performing well. The QC values are recorded and reviewed periodically.
In addition, the laboratory participates in more than 16 different External Quality Assurance Scheme (EQAS) programmes, which cover most of the accredited tests. Quality control and Quality assurance are held with high regard in the lab. Quality indicators such as turnaround time, sample rejection rate and test repeat rate are routinely monitored. The laboratory has been accredited by the NABL under ISO/IEC 15189 since 2002. At present, we have a repertoire of 200 parameters, out of which 176 are accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).
Faculty and technical staff
The Head is supported by the Quality and technical team, who are competent, efficient, enthusiastic, and dedicated staff involved with routine lab testing, teaching and research. A Quality manager who is passionate about the implementation of laboratory Quality management systems that encompass all aspects of the testing process: preanalytical, analytical, post-analytical and also for providing quality reports within the shortest possible time using the state-of-the-art equipment and standard methods. The technical manager oversees the troubleshooting of the analysers in the laboratory.
Faculty and senior technical personnel participate actively in continuing education programmes, external and internal, that expand their professional knowledge base and which also contribute to their work in the laboratory. The faculty members are given opportunities and are encouraged to facilitate projects from medical postgraduates of other departments or collaborate with other departments besides their routine work and teaching.
The department is dynamic and dedicated to excellence within the field of Clinical Biochemistry. The daily schedule makes Clinical Biochemistry a stimulating, challenging and enjoyable profession.
The department has four major roles, i.e.
• Patient-care related diagnostic services
• Academic teaching
• Outreach programme – CMC EQAS
• Research activities
The Department of Clinical Biochemistry provides a 24-hour service to the clinicians of our hospital and to a smaller extent, services are extended to the mission hospitals and to any hospital Laboratory in the country which requests any of the special tests available in our list.
A daily workload of 7500 samples and 28000 tests is handled by various automated systems and special manual assays, which are monitored by 35 technologists trained in the laboratory and 11 biochemists (PhD, MD, MSc) who serve as faculty of the department. The testing scope includes nearly 176 accredited parameters measured using state-of-the-art technology.
Assays are done in blood, urine, body fluids and also tissues.
Routine serum and urine chemistry
Immunoassays
Special test
Highly special assays
Urgent (STAT) tests include:
The list of tests along with the methodology, reference intervals, specimen required, and frequency of analysis is available in an annexure. Quality of the results is ensured by frequent analysis of precision controls (IQC) within the day and participating in external quality assurance schemes (EQAS). All the chemistry tests, inclusive of serum & urine, all immunoassays, autoimmune markers and G6PDH are covered in BioRad -EQAS, RCPA –EQAS and CMC EQAS monthly programmes. The drugs, cardiac markers and special proteins are enrolled in specific schemes offered by Randox Laboratories, RIQAS.
OUTREACH PROGRAMMES
Our service to the nation is through conducting a Proficiency Test scheme for Clinical Biochemistry parameters . As of 2025 we have around 15700 laboratories participating from all over the country and as well as from neighboring countries. We also provide the government PHc’s with internal quality controls at an affordable cost. CMCEQAS, Clinical Biochemistry is the first PT provider in the country for medical lab testing. As of 2025 , this is the 47thyear of the CMC EQAS. As part of this program the senior faculties of the department have personally visited many laboratories throughout India. They have given training on lab activities as well as suggestions for improvement in performance. The goal has been to make an impact at the grass root level and cover all strata, not only the urban labs but more importantly the semi urbanlabs which cater to the rural population. These efforts have resulted in creating a significant awareness among lab personnel on quality assurance (QA) & quality control (QC) towards delivering reliable lab reports for diagnosis of disease and subsequent monitoring..
The CMC-EQA, Clinical Biochemistry is accredited since 2014 by NABL as per ISO/IEC 17043:2010
1) External Quality Assurance Scheme (EQAS) at the National Level
Towards determining inter-laboratory comparison of performance, Dr. Kanagasabapathy, Dr. Peter Hill and Dr. Swaminathan carried out a pilot study in 1977 for some laboratories and recognized the need to conduct such a programme at the national level, as this study revealed alarming variations in the results reported. In 1978, in order to bring about improvement in laboratory services, the Association of Clinical Biochemists of India (ACBI) constituted a “Quality Control” committee under the Chairmanship of Dr. A.S. Kanagasabapathy. The CMCH-ACBI External Quality Assessment Scheme (EQAS) was thus implemented in 1978 starting with 50 participant labs, with the valuable support and encouragement from CMC management. Since then the department has been sending regularly QC samples and giving feed back to the participating laboratories based on their performance.
The participants represent all the states of India and from neighbouring countries. They include laboratories of large teaching and non-teaching hospitals as well as corporate / private laboratories in urban areas and small laboratories in rural areas. The number of participating labs have increased to 13,500 in the current year 2024, with 12 different programs. Many laboratories are benefited by this program, since it is affordable compared to other commercially available EQAS scheme.
For more details please visit the EQAS web site at http://home.cmcvellore.ac.in/clinqc/
As part of this programme, we conduct workshop/training for laboratory technicians.
The Faculty of the Department of Clinical Biochemistry are involved in teaching as part of the following undergraduate and post-graduate programs:
Undergraduate Allied Medical Sciences
B.Sc. Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT), a three-year course under The Tamil Nadu, Dr MGR Medical University, covering all aspects of Medical Laboratory Sciences, including Clinical Biochemistry. Theory and practical classes for Clinical Biochemistry are conducted for all the 3 years. The department has developed innovative methods to teach students as effectively as possible.
Postgraduate, Super-speciality, and Fellowship programms
Medical Postgraduates from various clinical specialities of the hospital undergo short-term or long-term posting in the department. The posting depending on the course includes laboratory practical work, lectures on major Clinical Biochemistry topics, demonstrations of the function of the analysers, principles of Quality management and as well participation in the departmental Journal Club.
Laboratory training programmes:
Laboratory visits (up to 3 days):
PhD programme:
Members of the faculty in the department are recognized as guides / co-guides by the Tamilnadu Dr. MGR Medical University to supervise our faculty staff and PhD students from other departments who have registered for PhD.
Training Programmes for WHO and ICMR-sponsored candidates
The department has run short training programmes (2-3 months) to meet the needs of MD and other candidates from within India and from overseas eg Malaysia, and Maldives in quality assurance and external quality assessment programmes and laboratory technology about immunoassays and automated chemistry analysers.
Work Experience visits of MRCPath candidates from UK Laboratories
Two candidates have been to our laboratory for approximately 6 weeks each, involving familiarization for them with a non-Western laboratory, presentations by the candidates and involvement in a laboratory-based project. The candidates produced a written report of their visit.
RESEARCH
One of the activities of the department in addition to rendering laboratory services, teaching programmes, etc, is its involvement in research. There are faculty doing part time research towards their Ph.D degree. The department encourages research activities and many projects are taken up with medical PG students of various other clinical departments, assays for clinical trials and active collaborative studies with other departments and organizations are in place.
The department supports those seeking to do research within the institution (or government organizations) in clinical trials and multi-centric evaluations of new testing materials that fall within the laboratory’s testing scope and also assessment of new analytes requested by our clinicians.
1) Former in service part–time PhD candidates:
The Head,
Department of Clinical Biochemistry,
CMC Vellore Town Campus,
Ida Scudder Road, Vellore – 632004,
Tamil Nadu.
Email us :
clinbio@cmcvellore.ac.in
004162282170
Mon-Fri: 8 am to 4.30 pm
( Sat : 8 am to 12:30 pm)
