Kisco Vaikom

What happens in the laboratory

The laboratory handles the everyday tests a doctor orders while working out what is going on: blood counts, blood sugar, liver and kidney profiles, thyroid tests, lipid profiles, urine and stool examinations, and cultures. Samples are collected at the centre or at your home, labelled at the point of collection, and processed in-house. A few specialised tests are sent on to our Pala laboratory.

• Bring the prescription or request form from your doctor.
• Ask us in advance whether your test needs fasting. Many, though not all, do.
• The blood collection itself usually takes a few minutes.
• Reports can be collected at the branch counter.

If you are unsure which test you need, that decision belongs with your doctor. Our staff can tell you how a test is done, what preparation it needs and what it costs, but not whether it is the right test for you.

Chemistry you can count on

Routine and special biochemistry runs on two Beckman Coulter platforms. The DxC 500i is an integrated clinical chemistry and immunoassay analyser - dual technology on one machine, with continuous sample and reagent loading, intelligent quality control and STAT processing for urgent samples. Alongside it, the AU480 delivers up to 400 photometric tests an hour, with an ISE module for electrolytes and barcode-based sample identification.

• Blood sugar, urea, creatinine, uric acid and electrolytes
• Liver and renal function panels
• Lipid profiles for heart risk assessment
• Calibration and quality control run automatically, every day

Continuous loading and minimal manual handling keep the workflow fast, so most routine reports are ready the same day.

Blood counts, done properly

Haematology runs on a Sysmex 6 part differential analyser - the same family of machines used by leading reference laboratories. It counts and sizes every cell line in your blood, runs automatic quality control and calibration before every batch, and flags abnormal cells for a technologist to review under the microscope.

• Complete haemogram with 6 part differential
• ESR, peripheral smear and blood grouping
• Advanced abnormal cell flagging
• Reliable, reproducible results for every patient

Sharper pictures, smaller dose

Our X-ray rooms use digital radiography with a wireless, lightweight DR detector panel. There are no cassettes and no processing time - the image appears on the console in about 25 seconds.

• High image quality with improved resolution and clarity for faster, more accurate diagnosis
• Advanced dose reduction technology for better patient safety
• Faster workflow and shorter waiting
• Chest, abdomen, spine, bone and sinus studies

Films, CD and email delivery of images are all available.

Imaging without radiation

Ultrasound at our Pala centre runs on the Mindray DC-80 with the X-Insight intelligent imaging platform - crystal clear 2D and colour Doppler imaging, advanced 3D/4D, and shear wave and strain elastography for characterising lesions without a needle. At Erattupetta, scanning is done on the Sonoscape P40 Elite, with contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), micro flow imaging, a full HD monitor and 3D fetal face visualisation.

• Abdomen, pelvis, thyroid, breast and small parts
• Colour Doppler studies of vessels, including carotid screening
• Pregnancy scans with 3D/4D fetal imaging
• Follicle monitoring for fertility treatment
• USG guided FNAC and biopsy

The five minute heart check

Every KISCO centre records digital ECGs on GE MAC series machines - the MAC 600 at Pala and Erattupetta, and the MAC 400 at Ramapuram. One touch operation, high quality waveforms and automatic measurements mean an accurate trace with no waiting around.

• Resting 12 lead ECG, recorded in minutes
• Automatic ECG measurements, checked by our team
• Accurate and reliable performance
• Reports handed over the same visit

The heart under stress

A treadmill test records your ECG, heart rate and blood pressure while you walk on a treadmill that gradually speeds up. Problems that hide at rest - such as reduced blood flow to the heart muscle - often show themselves under controlled exercise.

• Continuous ECG monitoring throughout the test
• Performed under trained supervision, on medical advice
• Wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes
• Avoid a heavy meal for two to three hours beforehand

A moving picture of the heart

An echocardiogram uses ultrasound to show the heart as it beats - the chambers, the valves and how strongly the muscle pumps. It is painless, uses no radiation, and takes around twenty to thirty minutes.

• Assessment of pumping function and valve movement
• Useful after a heart attack, in breathlessness and in high blood pressure
• No preparation needed - eat and take medicines as usual
• Reported by the consulting physician

We come to you

For elderly patients, anyone recovering at home, or simply a busy morning - our technicians collect samples at your doorstep, and reports follow the usual same day schedule. We also run a sample collection centre near the private bus stand at Kottaramattom, Pala.

• Pala - 90721 45954
• Erattupetta - 86062 72793
• Vaikom - 80780 04598
• Ramapuram - 95629 55900

Call the number for your area and we will fix a convenient time before anyone travels.