Microbiology Laboratories

In the Bacteriology unit of our laboratory, microscopic examination, bacteriological culture and antibiotic susceptibility tests are performed on clinical samples. Pathogenic bacteria isolated from various clinical samples (sputum, urine, stool, blood, etc.) are identified using the state-of-the-art MALDI-TOF MS (Matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry) method in addition to conventional methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests are performed against the isolated pathogenic bacteria in accordance with international standards. For this purpose, both conventional methods such as disk diffusion and E-test are used, and antimicrobial susceptibility is determined at the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) level with automated bacterial identification systems. Blood, bone marrow and catheter cultures are evaluated with automated culture systems, and if pathogenic bacteria are detected, the identification and antibiotic susceptibility procedures mentioned above are carried out.

In the Serology unit of our laboratory, the presence of antibodies developed against infectious microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites) or against the body's own proteins (autoimmune diseases), or of specific microorganism antigens, is investigated. A very wide range of tests is performed in our laboratory for the diagnosis of infectious diseases, primarily hepatitis and HIV (AIDS), and rheumatic diseases. For the diagnosis of these diseases, the relevant antigens or antibodies are investigated using state-of-the-art technology in clinical samples taken from the patient, such as blood, urine and cerebrospinal fluid, and are reported according to international diagnostic standards.

In our Mycology unit, tests are carried out for the laboratory diagnosis of fungal infections and for determining the susceptibility of fungal isolates to antifungal drugs. For this purpose, direct microscopic examination and culture methods, which are accepted today as the gold standard in the diagnosis of these infections, are used for diagnosis, and fungi grown from clinical samples are identified to species level by classical methods. Antifungal susceptibility tests, which guide the determination of which drugs are appropriate for treatment, are also performed with the reference methods developed and recommended by international committees. In our Mycology unit, the Cryptococcus capsular antigen test is also performed alongside direct microscopic examination and culture for the diagnosis of infections caused by this fungus.

In our Parasitology unit, tests are carried out for the laboratory diagnosis of parasitic infections. For this purpose, direct microscopic examination, permanent staining methods and, for some protozoa, culture methods are applied in the diagnosis of protozoa and helminths. Stool samples arriving at the laboratory are evaluated microscopically with a semi-automated system, and diagnosis to species level can be made with the help of stains such as trichrome and MAF. In addition to stool, samples such as blood, sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and cyst fluid are also examined for diagnosis, and fluorescence microscopy is also used in diagnosis.

In our Molecular Microbiology unit, tests are applied that make it possible to detect disease-causing microorganisms at the DNA and RNA level in clinical samples. For this purpose, after nucleic acid isolation with automated systems, tests such as PCR, real-time PCR, strip hybridization and DNA sequence analysis are performed with the most up-to-date and reliable methods. These methods are used not only for diagnosis but also for monitoring treatment. With molecular methods, the amounts of important microorganisms such as HBV, HCV, HIV and CMV in clinical samples can also be determined quantitatively, and decreases or increases in viral load measured at certain intervals guide clinicians in showing the effectiveness of the treatment applied. More than thirty microorganisms can be detected in different clinical samples in our Molecular Microbiology unit.