Rajkot: AIIMS Rajkot signed an MOU with HLL Lifecare Limited yesterday to establish a BSL-3 laboratory. This facility will enhance diagnostic capacity for viruses such as Chandipura, Dengue, Chikungunya, CCHF, and Japanese Encephalitis.

This laboratory is a project under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. The project will cost approximately Rs 14 crore and will be completed within 18 months. This development marks a milestone for AIIMS Rajkot and the state of Gujarat, as it will be the first BSL-3 laboratory in the region. The lab will be operational by December 2025.

This facility will enable quick and accurate identification of viruses, supporting timely public health responses and advancing infectious disease research. The lab will help control virus outbreaks and reduce their impact both within and beyond Gujarat.

Additionally, a Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) at AIIMS Rajkot will soon become operational. It will provide advanced diagnostic capabilities for viruses such as dengue, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, measles, hepatitis, influenza, and COVID-19.

The National Institute of Virology (NIV) has permitted the VRDL at AIIMS Rajkot to start testing for Zika virus. This will further expand the lab’s diagnostic capabilities and enhance its role in addressing emerging viral threats. DeshGujarat