Guj’s first BSL-3 lab to come up at Rajkot AIIMS

Rajkot: AIIMS Rajkot is set to establish Gujarat’s first BSL-3 laboratory within its premises by Dec 2025, following the signing of an MoU with HLL Life Care India and obtaining approval from ICMR.
The lab, costing Rs 14 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), will have the capability to diagnose highly infectious agents such as Japanese encephalitis, Chandipura, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), hepatitis, and influenza.
Dr CDS Katoch, executive director of AIIMS Rajkot, stated, “The Biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) lab will significantly enhance the capacity to diagnose and research deadly viruses prevalent in Gujarat, such as CCHF and Chandipura Virus. It will enable rapid and accurate identification of high-risk pathogens, facilitating timely public health responses and advancing research in infectious diseases. This lab will be crucial in controlling outbreaks and mitigating the impact of these dangerous viruses within the state and beyond.”
As an interim arrangement, a Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) will soon become operational at AIIMS Rajkot. This BSL-2 level facility will provide advanced diagnostic capabilities for various viruses, including dengue, chikungunya, Japanese Encephalitis, measles, hepatitis, influenza, and Covid-19. The facility has already received permission from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) to commence testing for the Zika virus, offering critical support in the early detection and management of viral infections.
Since its opening in Feb 2023, AIIMS Rajkot has been running a 250-bed facility and handles over 600 outdoor patients per day as a multispecialty hospital.