Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) ICMR-NICED, is a designated Regional Level (Grade - 1) laboratory under the VRDL network established by Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, as a part of implementation of the Scheme "Establishment of a Network of Laboratories for Managing Epidemics and Natural Calamities" to strengthen infrastructure of viral diagnostics in India.

This state-of-the-art Laboratory came up after receiving grant-in-aid in September 2014 and it became operational from July 2015. The Laboratory, one of its kinds in the State of West Bengal, is manned by a team of skilled personnel (list given below) having medical and non-medical background.

Dr. Shanta Dutta, Scientist G & Director: Principal Investigator
Dr. Agniva Majumdar : Research Scientist II (Medical)
Dr. Soumen Mukherjee : Research Scientist II (Non-Medical)
Dr. Ananya Chatterjee : Research Scientist I (Non-Medical)
Ms. Madhumonti Biswas : Research Assistant
Mr. Rudrak Gupta : Research Assistant
Mr. Chinmoy Mondal : Laboratory Technician
Mr. Suman Das : Laboratory Technician
Ms Shreema Chakraborty : Laboratory Technician
Mr. Satyabrata Ghorai : Laboratory Technician
Mr. Soumodip Mitra : Data Entry Operator
Mr. Nayan Basuli : Data Entry Operator
Mr. Kartick Ch. Mondal : Multi-Tasking Staff
Mr. TapanTuri : Multi-Tasking Staff
Mr. Biswajit Dey : Multi-Tasking Staff
Mr. Ranajoy Sarkar : Multi-Tasking Staff
Ms. Sutapa Hazra : Multi-Tasking Staff

Facilities Available

 

NICED VRDL provides facilities like Biosafety Level III, ELISA for diagnostic purposes, conventional PCR, real time PCR, sequencing and offline/ online data capture. Major equipment stationed at the NICED VRDL are Genetic Analyser/ Sequencer, BSL-2 plus laboratories, Gel imaging systems, ELISA Washer, ELISA Reader, pH Meter, Thermo-cyclers for PCR, Real-Time PCRs, Centrifuge, -80⁰/-20⁰ Centigrade Freezer, Walk-in cold room. A well equipped seminar room with training facilities is available.

Role of NICED VRDL in diagnosis and outbreak investigation

NICED-VRDL is involved in activities related to routine viral diagnostics and viral outbreak investigation. On request and in partnership with the State Health Authorities NICED-VRDL provides extensive laboratory support towards viral outbreak management. In recent years, during outbreaks of Influenza A H1N1 and Dengue in the State of West Bengal, NICED-VRDL did a very commendable job of screening samples referred from Medical Colleges and other Public Health setups for respective viruses. Equipped with leading edge facilities, NICED-VRDL performs molecular (PCR/ real time PCR/ Sequencing) and immunological tests (antigen and antibody detection) for detection of viruses. Apart from its involvement in outbreak investigation, NICED-VRDL routinely provides diagnostic services (immunologic and/or molecular) for Dengue (including serotyping), Chikungunya, Hepatitis panel, Respiratory Panel, Japanese encephalitis virus, Scrub typhus and Zika virus to Medical Colleges and other Public Health setups free of cost. Details of information regarding investigations performed at NICED-VRDL are given in the table.

Virus Groups	Virus Name	Specimen	Parameter Tested	Method of testing
Arboviruses	Dengue	Serum	NS1 antigen IgM antibody IgG antibody	ELISA
	Chikungunya	Serum	IgM antibody	ELISA
			Viral RNA	RT-PCR
	Zika virus	Serum	Viral RNA	RT-PCR
	Japanese encephalitis virus	Serum	IgM antibody	ELISA
Hepatitis viruses	Hepatitis A virus	Serum	IgM antibody	ELISA
	Hepatitis E virus	Serum	IgM antibody	ELISA
	Hepatitis B virus	Serum	HBsAg	ELISA
	Hepatitis C virus	Serum	Anti HCV antibody	ELISA
Respiratory viruses	Influenza A - H1N1, H3N2	Nasopharyngeal swab (preferable) Throat swab (valid only for Influenza)	Viral RNA	RT-PCR
	Influenza B - Yamagata, Victoria
	Respiratory Syncitial Virus - A, B
	Human Metapneumovirus - A1A2
	Parainfluenza virus - 1, 2, 3, 4
	Respiratory Adenovirus
	Rhinovirus
Enteric viruses	Rotavirus	Stool	Antigen	ELISA
	Adenovirus 40, 41	Stool	Antigen	ELISA
Others	Scrub typhus	Serum	IgM antibody	ELISA

Properly collected specimens can be sent to the laboratory for diagnostic tests accompanied by completely filled Test Request Form.

Reports of the results of investigations are provided directly to patients, clinicians and concerned health authorities. Furthermore VRDL testing data is uploaded in the VRDL online/offline data capture system. This endeavour is a step towards facilitating collation of nationwide data on viruses and their prevailing serotypes.

Collaboration and Research

Though the direct catchment area of NICED-VRDL is the state of West Bengal yet it has established collaboration with other Viral Diagnostic Laboratories (VDLs) such as Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar and Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand. Through this collaboration NICED-VRDL aims to promote joint research and provide diagnostic and training support to the VDLs of those states including Sikkim.

Training of Health care Personnel

Being a Regional Laboratory, NICED-VRDL is committed to the responsibility of organizing training workshops for health care personnel of the state and other VDLs. These workshops draw participants from Medical Colleges and VDLs of states like West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand etc. The primary focus of the workshops is to provide hands on training on immunological and molecular diagnostic techniques of emerging diseases. Recent workshops were held at the NICED VRDL during March 28-29, 2017; February 27-28, 2018 and June 28-29, 2018.

 

 

Contact Us

Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL)
Dr. S.C. Pal Building, ICMR - NICED,
P-33 C.I.T. Road Scheme - XM,
Beliaghata, Kolkata - 700010
Tel.: 033 2370 5533 / 4478 / 0448 / 2353 / 7469 Ext. 121 / 190
Email: vrdln.niced@gmail.com

Specimen collection/receiving counter:
ICMR-NICED Virus Laboratory,
GB4, 1st Floor, ID & BG Hospital,
Beliaghata, Kolkata - 700010