Installation of diagnostic next-generation sequencing testing at Hematology Department, PGI Chandigarh

An advanced next-generation sequencer was put into routine diagnostic patient care service by the Hematology Department at PGIMER, Chandigarh on Friday, 19th July 2024. Dr. Reena Das, Head of Hematology (laboratory), and Dr. Pankaj Malhotra, Head of Clinical Hematology and Medical Oncology department informed that this instrument is a key resource in modern laboratories. It helps in the diagnosis of several serious blood diseases. Patients likely to benefit from the availability of this facility in a government hospital include those with different serious blood cancers and children with bone marrow failure. Patients with bleeding or anemia (lack of blood) from unknown reasons will be another major beneficiary group. Such patients currently have to get numerous lab tests done to diagnose their illnesses. The next-generation sequencer will shorten their waiting times, as well as offer the hope of testing future generations of their family for the specific hematological genetic diseases like hemophilia and thalassemia.

The above tests are currently only available in a few private laboratories, and some government research institutions who don’t offer it as a routine patient-care test. PGIMER treats a large proportion of poor patients as well as those covered under government welfare schemes like Ayushman Bharat, Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram, CGHS and HimCare. Hence, the initiation of this service in this apex institute will prove to be a life saver for these under-served and needy sections of society.