Lab Introduction

Kerala has the best health indices in the country, best exemplified by low infant and maternal mortality. However, the urbanization drive even in the remotest areas is inflicting serious damages in the environment. Though the high health indices are commendable, the state is in the grip of epidemics with infectious diseases round the year. The climate with two monsoon seasons, environment and thick population makes Kerala, a haven of infectious diseases and as a result diseases emerge and reemerge.

Kerala a haven for infectious diseases?

Reports suggests that our land is fertile for many infectious diseases. Diseases like Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C are becoming more established and along with HIV needs early diagnosis for proper management and prevention. Many diseases thought to have been eradicated, controlled or were seldom encountered in our state have reappeared Viz. Malaria, Cholera, Weil's disease (Leptospirosis), scrub typhus, Kyasnur Forest Disease (KFD) etc. Diseases thought to be non-existent in Kerala, like, mosquito-borne virus diseases like Japanese EncephaIitis, Chikungunya, Dengue fever are been on the rise in the recent years. Cases with the dangerous form of influenza, H1N1, are also rising. .Reports of Diphtheria, which is once thought to be a well-controlled bacterial disease, among children in the Northern Kerala is causing real concerns. Respiratory infections with Human Metapneumo virus and Respiratory Syncitial Virus are also increasing, especially among children below 5 years of age. Tuberculosis (TB) is still a majour problem. Many cases of drug resistant tuberculosis and latent have been reported in the recent past

COVID19 pandemic took us through tough times, even the index case of India is from Kerala. Presently COID19 became an endemic disease and new infectious diseases are emerging. In the recent years Kerala had witnessed deadly outbreaks of NIPAH with over 90% mortality. Reports of H5N1 among domestic birds is a serious concern. Very recent reports of primary amoeibic meningoencephalitis Monkey Pox adds to the agony. Hence, once could very well assume that Kerala is a haven for infectious diseases. This will lead to several challenges in precise diagnosis and create new avenues of research.

The main affected category is young children, pregnant ladies, the elderly, the marginalized and the poor. The healthcare related expenses are on the rise and the large section of the population is struggling to pay for. This is because many diseases are diagnosed very late and by the time the disease become full blown and requires special care and long stay at hospitals.
Here is the role of Pushpagiri Centre for Virology & Molecular Biology Laboratory provides a full range of diagnostic services primarily for the serological detection and monitoring of viral illnesses, molecular diagnosis of bacterial and viral molecular illnesses.

Pushpagiri Centre for Virology (PCV) is established in 2012 as the first of it’s kind in the Central Travancore region for diagnosis of viral diseases by srology and molecular methods.Since 2021 PCV laboratory is accredited by NABL for HCV viral load and SARS CoV-2 by Real Time PCR as per ISO

We aim at:

• Serving as vital consultants to our physicians for test selection and interpretation
• Bringing the latest technology for viral disease diagnosis
• Advance clinical and basic research

Being the Director Research Center, Rev. Dr. Mathew Mazhavancheril is the guiding force behind Pushpagiri Centre for Virology and Molecular Biology. A PhD in Biotechnology and later his postdoctoral studies earned him enough expertise to manage the one of the key positions in PIMS&RC at ease.

Professor & Head of the Department of Microbiology, Dr. Mercy John Idikula is an eminent Microbiologist with special interest in Virology. Being a post graduate from Christian Medical College, Vellore, she is instrumental in establishing the Clinical Virology Department at CMC. Her genuine research aptitude and vast experience with more than 40 years is definitely shaping the centre.

George Varghese, Assistant Professor of Microbiology is the Incharge of the centre. Being a post graduate from Christian Medical College, Vellore, he has more than 26 years of in teaching and diagnostic combined. As an experienced faculty he is the driving force behind the day today functioning for the centre.