REGIONAL STI TRAINING, RESEARCH AND REFERENCE LABORATORY
The Serology laboratory under the Institute of Venereology was first established at Madras medical College in 1952 by Dr. C. W. Chacko (Ph.D London University). He had the credit for the discovery of Chacko strain of Yaws, Chacko –Nair medium for Gonococcal culture, Treponema pallidum immobilization test for syphilis. This Institute became an outstanding laboratory under his leadership and only one of its kind in India and indeed in Asia. The laboratory was upgraded to the Central Venereal Disease Laboratory in 1961 for the purpose of standardization and quality control.
Regional reference laboratory was established in 1974 in the Institute of Venereology to evaluate VDRL and other serological tests for syphilis done by all the laboratories inclusive of private laboratories in Tamilnadu.
The Serology regional reference laboratory was established as the Regional STI Training, Research and Reference Laboratory ( RSTRRL) in 2009-10. RSTRRL (Regional STI Training Research and Referral Lab), Department of Serology, Institute of Venereology, Madras Medical College is one of the ten regional referral labs in India for STI/RTI under Apex STD centre, Safdarjung hospital, New Delhi. It works under the guidelines of NACO and TANSACS.
The RSTRRL conducts annual hands-on training for the laboratory personnel from six State Referral Centres (Madurai medical college, Tirunelveli medical college, Coimbatore medical college, Stanley medical college, JIPMER and Trivandrum medical college). RSTRRL also regularly participates in EQAS
Program from CDC, Atlanta and Apex lab, New Delhi for Gonococci and
Syphilis and other research activities. It also conducts EQAS for VDRL for the six SRCs attached to RSTRRL. It also acts as the referral lab for STIs for all SRCs in Tamilnadu, Pondicherry and Kerala, the 26 linked DSRCs.
CORE FUNCTIONS OF RSTRRL
Etiological diagnosis of all bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal sexually transmitted infections.
Participate in GASP (Gonococcal antimicrobial susceptibility programme).
Linkage with STI/RTI facilities from DSRCs, other OPDs, other STI clinics, PHCs and SRCs.
Conduct annual hands-on training for the laboratory personnel from six state referral centers (Madurai Medical College, Tirunelveli Medical College, Coimbatore Medical College, Stanley Medical College, JIPMER and Trivandrum Medical College).
Provide technical support to SRCs with special emphasis on gonococcal and syphilis EQAS.
Provide onsite monitoring of SRCs twice a year.
Acts as a referral lab for STIs from the 26 linked DSRCs and STI clinics.
Participate in proficiency testing and EQAS conducted by CDC, Atlanta and Apex lab, New Delhi.
Conduct internal assessment tests for the staffs of Department of serology on regular basis.
Conduct surveillance of STIs along with Institute of Venereology.
Assist in thesis and research works of Institute of Venereology.
Conduct research activities and periodic surveys to determine the prevalence of STIs.
Evaluation of diagnostic kits and techniques for diagnosis of STI.
Works for getting NABL accreditation.