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The King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research?

  • Forefathers of King Institute of Preventive Medicine had the vision and fore thought and saw the need to establish a separate department of virology. The Research unit of King Institute of preventive Medicine was designated as department of Virology in 1969 vide G.O.Ms.No.498/Health dated 18.3.1969. The post of Research Officer was upgraded as Assistant Director Department of Virology.


  • Funds for the 36 project staffs are being paid by the respective projects (9ICMR, NPSP, IDSP, DBT)

    • Activities:

    Establishment of tissue culture lab.

    The Department boasts of a wide collection of cell culture, which is being supplied to all leading Institutes. It is also a training ground for young budding virologists and biotechnologists.

    Diagnostic Virology:

  • WHO – Tissue culture work

  • WHO – Polio

  • WHO – Rubella

  • WHO – Measles

  • WHO – Japanese Encephalitis

    • (Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar, Tamil nadu, and Pondicherry).

  • CMR – Human Influenza Viruses and Pandemic H1N1 2009 testing
  • CMR – Bird Flu Virus Detection
  • Potency Test for Oral Polio Vaccine

    • Diagnostic testing for:

  • Dengue

  • Chikungunya

  • Coxsackie B

  • HSV – 1 & 2

  • West Nile Virus

  • Cytomegalo Virus

  • Epstein Barr Virus

  • Rota Virus

    • Oral Polio Vaccine potency testing centre:

    We receive samples from all the Southern States for OPV Potency Testing. The OPV testing centre became fully operational in 1989 and the number of vials tested gradually increased. The testing facility was extended to the states of Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and Union territory of Andaman.

    National Polio Lab:

    The department of Virology King Institute of Preventive Medicine was one of the 9 labs identified in the country. The WHO expert committee visited evaluated the potential of the lab and department was designated as WHO National polio Lab. Officers and Technical Staffs have been trained in the WHO workshops conducted over the years and are fully competent to carry out all the techniques in use in Virology laboratory.

  • Polio virus isolation and identification from stool samples of AFP cases from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Andaman and Pondicherry.


  • Monitoring efficacy of cold chain maintenance of OPV used in Immunization programme by testing potency of the vaccine.


  • Environmental surveillance for Poliovirus from Sewage and healthy children.

    • Arbovirus Lab:

    Diagnostic Testing for

  • Dengue

  • Chikungunya

  • Japanese Encephalitis

  • West Nile Virus

    • Influenza Lab:

    Functions – Surveillance centre for Influenza virus:

  • Influenza Virus Isolation and Serotyping.

  • Sero Surveillance Studies for Human Influenza Virus.

  • Real Time RT PCR for the Detection of Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza.

    • WHO Measles Laboratory Network:

  • Investigation of Measles outbreaks and Laboratory confirmation for Measles by Serology.

  • Molecular Epidemiology by Virus Isolation.

  • Serology for the Detection of Rubella.

    • Academics and Projects:

  • We have started a state of the art course M.Sc., (Molecular and Diagnostic Virology) since 2009.

  • We provide training for MD., Microbiology Students from both Government and Private Medical Colleges.

  • Recognized as Ph.D., guide for Tamil Nadu Dr.MGR Medical University.

  • Ph.D. Co-guideship for Department of Microbiology, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute.

  • Advisory Committee member for Methodology Examination for Ph.D. CMC, Vellore.

  • Besides students are encouraged to take up Virology topics for dissertation projects for which Rs.6000/- is collected and necessary facility is made available to the Student.

  • Short time training for Ph.D. Students for 3 Months.

  • Students doing M.Sc. (life sciences) from various colleges are given projects in the Department for a period of three months.

    • Rates collected for the tests in Virology:

    Description Present Rates
    I. Diagnostic services
    IgM ELISA - -
    ????a. Dengue 300/-
    ????b. HSV 1 & 2 300/-
    ????c.Japanese Encephalitis 300/-
    ????d. Measles 300/-
    ????e. Rubella 300/-
    ????f. Chikungunya 300/-
    ????g. Mumps 300/-
    ????h. Epstein Barr Virus 300/-
    ????i. West Nile virus 300/-
    ????j. Dengue IgG ELISA 300/-
    ????k. Rabies 300/-
    II. Neutralisation Test
    ????a. COX NT 150/-
    ????b. Measles NT 150/-

    Newer Initiatives:

    1. Rabies Diagnostic centre
    2. Epidemic and Pandemic investigation centre for Viral Diseases
    3. Diagnostic Viral laboratory to network all the Private Laboratories in Tamil Nadu
    4. BSL – 3 facility to be incorporated in our Laboratory
    5. Request that the staffs on consolidated pay may be made permanent for the Institute of Virology
    6. Establishment of Centre for Genomics
    7. Establishment of Centre for Proteomics
    8. An exclusive building (1,000,000 Sq.ft.,) to be built with the latest GLP norms & Technology
    9. Centre for Bioinformatics
    10. Centre for Research on antiviral property of Indigenous herbal preparations
    11. Diagnosis of H1V/AIDS
    12. Testing for Panel of Hepatitis Viruses – Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E & G
    13. Characterization and Identification of NPEV in AFP cases

    Contact us:

    Dr.P.Gunasekaran,
    Deputy Director & Head,
    Department of Virology,
    King Institute of Preventive Medicine & Research,
    Guindy, Chennai-600 032.
    Telefax: 044-22501778
    e-mail: [email?protected]