Page 63 - IMR ANNUAL REPORT 2021: INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH
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50 IMR ANNUAL REPORT 2021
19 Brucella serology (ELISA) 211 127
20 BrucellaCapt test 25 21
21 PCR – Brucella detection 43 29
22 Melioidosis serology 7109 6003
23 PCR - Burkholderia pseudomallei detection 50 72
24 PCR - Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) 2744 2407
detection
25 PCR - Mycobacteria other than tuberculosis 96 149
PCR (MOTT) detection
26 Fungal identification 860 986
7
6
27
Fungal culture
INFECTIOUS DISEASES RESEARCH CENTRE (IDRC) 28 Antifungal susceptibility testing 800 804
278
385
678
29
Fungal PCR from direct samples
30
956
Fungal PCR from isolates
31
186
36
32 QC of media 2816 2059
QC of antibiotic disc
33 Freeze drying/glycerol stock preparation 930 1529
34 Maintenance of cultures 304 277
35 Culture NQAP 853 830
Total tests 73253 52511
The Virology Unit continued to assist the Ministry of Health (MOH) in providing
diagnostic services for prevalent viral infections, serving most government
hospitals and clinics in the country. The unit also served as:
WHO National Influenza Centre
WHO National Laboratory for Poliovirus
National Reference Laboratory for SARS CoV, Pan- CoV & Novel CoV
National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza
National Reference Laboratory for Zika
National Reference Laboratory for Rabies
National Reference Laboratory for Emerging and Re-emerging Viral
Diseases
In 2021, the largest diagnostic workload was contributed by testing for COVID-19.
The unit conducted an External Quality Assessment Scheme (EQAS) programme
for molecular detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus which involved 26 hospital
laboratories. The Virology laboratory also evaluated COVID-19 in vitro diagnostic
kits for the detection of COVID-19 antigen, RNA or antibody.
As the WHO National Influenza Centre, information from surveillance on
circulating influenza subtypes in Malaysia is uploaded onto the WHO FluNet.
Selected viral isolates are sent to the WHO Regional Laboratory on Influenza for
genetic characterisation which will facilitate selection of influenza subtypes for
influenza vaccines.
