Current Concepts of Medical Microbiology Laboratory

A 'good' laboratory is a fundamental need in providing a 'good' diagnostic service to the population. Proper designing of the laboratory with technical guidance is one of the basic requirements of a 'good' or standard laboratory. Lack of awareness and knowledge about laboratory designing creates many problems in building new facilities or refurbishing the buildings converting them into laboratories. Non availability of a national guideline is partly responsible for this. The critical role of the microbiology laboratory in infectious disease diagnosis calls for a close, positive working relationship between the physician and the microbiologists who provide enormous value to the health care team. Good design and good equipment can be valuable in containing and controlling infectious materials, indifferent or inconsistent arrangements can complicate or limit efforts to minimize the risk of accidents and infections.