Inception
One of the biggest names for diagnostics in India, Suburban Diagnostics first took off in 1994 as a small pathology lab at Lokhandwala, Andheri West, Mumbai, with the intent of delivering trailblazing, high-quality diagnostic services as a friendly neighborhood pathology lab. Over the last 28 years, we have built a network of 250+ centers in more than sixteen cities of India.
With more than 4,500 tests across various specializations, best-in-class infrastructure, panel of experts and a strong will to unburden healthcare, Suburban Diagnostics has come to be known for its efficient processes that strive towards minimal error and customer centricity.
Dr. Sanjay Arora
Founder
MBBS, DPB, MD (Path)
About the Founder
Our Founder, Dr. Sanjay Arora, is an alumnus of the Grant Medical College and JJ Hospital, Mumbai with a special interest in Cytopathology. Dr. Sanjay Arora trained from the esteemed Tata Hospital, Johns Hopkins Hospital and Henry Ford Hospital, USA. The very embodiment of passion and perfection, Dr. Arora's 'first love' has been a microscope. He also holds an interest in other areas like Clinical Lab Management. Looking at his determination to provide better health diagnostic services, he was felicitated and honoured with the 100 Most Impactful Healthcare Leaders Award by the World Health and Wellness Congress in 2018. Dr. Arora has featured in Forbes India Marquee Leaders in Healthcare, 2019 and got the VCCircle Healthcare Investment Award, 2015. He was acknowledged with the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' by IES Management College and Research Centre, 2018. Recently, Dr. Arora was honored as the Influential Leader of New India 2021 by Teammarksmen in association with CNN News 18 for his exceptional leadership, especially when the pandemic presented several operational and financial challenges. His belief of 'staying accessible' to the patient and 'impacting health outcomes' are founding principles at Suburban Diagnostics. Even today, consumer-centricity remains at the core of all our offerings and processes.
Timeline
- Established a fully automated lab and emerged as the largest diagnostics player in Andheri, Mumbai.
- Focused on building connect with patients & medical practitioners with our service & quality.
- The central processing lab received NABL accreditation (one of the youngest labs to receive NABL).
- Initated expansion beyond Mumbai.
- Expanded presence rapidly in Maharashtra followed by Goa and Madhya Pradesh.
- The central processing lab recieved and received CAP certification along with NABL accreditations for Thane, Pune & Borivali laboratories.
- Andheri lab expanded into CRL & received CAP certification along with NABL for Thane, Pune & Borivali labs.
- Expanded test menu to microbiology, histopathology, haematology & coagulation.
Established a center at Versova, Andheri West, Mumbai
Launched another center in Mahavir Nagar, Kandivili West, Mumbai
Established centres in Mira Road & Thane in Mumbai
Shifted our Central Processing Lab to Andheri West, Mumbai(September)
Launched our first centre in Goa and added a new facility at Borivali West, Mumbai
Launched our first centre and laboratory in Nagpur, Maharahtra
Expanded presence in Goa with a new labarotary in North Goa
Established presence in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Also launched a new laboratory in Indore
Services
Diagnostics Services:
One of the pioneers of Diagnostics in India, Suburban Diagnostics provides a comprehensive range of tests across disciplines in Pathology, Cardiology and Radiology.
Know MoreHome Healthcare:
We make it convenient for you to be healthy. Be it a weekend or you just want to have tests done at the safety and comfort of your home, we have got you covered.
Know MoreHealth Check-up Packages:
Suburban Diagnostics has a wide range of health check-up packages carefully curated & designed to help you monitor your health at every stage of your life. We also present to you the option of building a customised plan for your company, a unique plan made just for you.
Know MoreHospital Lab Management:
Suburban Diagnostics offers widespread, 24*7 operational labs in reputed hospitals across Mumbai and Pune, through which we significantly raise the bar for quality of service.
Know MoreSpecialized Services:
When it comes to diagnostics, the correct answers are critical, but how they were derived is equally important. Knowing that you’re in trusted and reliable hands brings more confidence in the treatment. All this makes TEAL the face of specialisation in Oncological Diagnostics.
Know MoreCorporate Wellness:
A healthy workforce means higher productivity and a healthy work environment. Our preventive health management programs will help to improve productivity and talent retention capacity. By encouraging health at work, you are letting health work for you.
Know MoreClinical Research:
We have a prodigious site and investigator support for clinical research studies in pathology, cardiology and radiology. Furthermore, we provide efficient on-site technician support for all of our investigators, dedicated project management We have a prodigious site and investigator support for clinical research studies in pathology, cardiology and radiology. Furthermore, we provide efficient on-site technician support for all of our investigators, dedicated project management
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Brand Manifesto
Proactiveness: Contemplating and taking action on something before the need arises is upon you. What are those ‘somethings’? They are several situations from every aspect of your life- education, career, family, and most importantly, health, yours and of those who you love dearly. Practising proactive healthcare isn’t just about taking care of your health, it is about taking control of your life. Not leaving things to chance or good luck or genetics. It is about making the best of what you’ve got and being the best version of yourself.
Suburban Diagnostics believes in regular proactive healthcare for every individual. Don’t do a test after you fall ill, do a test not to fall ill. Preventive healthcare is the best way to reduce the burden that diseases put on you and your health. Make your health a priority with Suburban Diagnostics because ‘accuracy’, ‘reliability’ and ‘efficiency’ aren’t some words that we use to describe ourselves; we strive each day to achieve them and impact thousands of health outcomes everyday. Suburban Diagnostics is here to partner you on your journey, where you are in control of your health, your life.
Vision
To be the most admired diagnostics company that is medically relevant and impacting health outcomes to unburden healthcare.
Purpose
To be the most preferred diagnostics brand that is accessible and reliable, and providing an exceptional customer experience.
Values
Enthusiasm
- Enthusiastic workforce that exceed customer expectations
- Driven to understand & meet customer needs
- Keen to receive feedback and improve our services
Genuine care
- “Pathologist on call” service
- Rigorously trained staff for a pain-free sample collection
- Enable a hassle-free customer experience
Building great relationships
- Prioritizing health and well-being of our customers and community
- Taking proactive steps to engage with customers beyond diagnostics
- All ears to queries, complaints & compliments
Display diligence and attention to detail
- Deliver state-of-the-art diagnostic healthcare at all times.
- Ensure minimal error
- Perform a 3 level checking with experts for accurate report delivery
Attention to detail
- Transparent communication
- Multiple micro-checkpoints to ensure accurate results
- Highly skilled and experienced team of pathologists and lab technicians
Strive towards zero error
- 3 level expert-check of reports before finalizing
- Dynamic centralized softwares to offer precise diagnostic support
- Best in class customer sample handling
Don’t settle; innovate and evolve
- Always striving to better our offerings and services
- To provide the highest specialised tests for precise diagnosis
Lead by example
- Frontrunner in the nation’s fight against COVID-19
- Uphold best industrial practices
Centre of Excellence
Our centers of excellence are programs assembled to supply exceptional expertise and related resources centered on a specific area of medicine in order to deliver the best possible outcome to a patient.
We have multiple centres of excellence under one umbrella. But what makes our centres of excellence a cut above? Well, it's all encapsulated in our philosophy of the 6Ts.
Tests
For every centre of excellence, we strive to create a test menu that is not only broad (number of conditions covered) and deep (the testing methodologies for testing, with sometimes more than one method available for the same test). We try to provide end-to-end solutions for our patients to meet all their pathology needs under one roof. Any test that you would like to get done would be available with us. Our test menu forms the first pillar of our centres of excellence.
Technology
To strengthen our test menu and all the other processes before and after testing, we have embraced the use of technology wholeheartedly. Beside using the latest and newest methodologies for testing, we also use technology for greater efficiency in process automation and analytical procedures. Extensive automation has also helped us optimize existing processes and make them more streamlined, achieving faster and more reliable results while reducing errors.
Talent
It refers to the human element of our centres of excellence. We only hire and train the best, most qualified people for any role in the centre of excellence. We have strived to make an environment conducive to nurture these talented individuals and give them opportunities for further education and growth. As a result, our staff consistently goes above and beyond – something we refer to as “exceeding the brief.”
Training
Regardless of their role, every staff member is given training and retraining at regular intervals from the day they join. Both internal and external experts provide training in all areas related to their position. This training also extends to newer advances and technologies. Our doctors are also given constant training and are encouraged to keep themselves updated and regularly participate in CMEs, conferences, and educational webinars. Exceptional staff members are also identified and tapped for new or more expanded roles based on their performance and aptitude.
Tracking
Everything at our centres of excellence is tracked, measured and subsequently managed. There are quality indicators in place for almost every process. There are daily quality checks, documentation and tracking procedures for every pre-analytic, analytic, post-analytic and customer-related process. This also extends to our participation in accreditation programs, the foremost being NABL and CAP. We subscribe to multiple external quality assessment programs; at many times, more than one program per discipline. From our technical team to our topmost doctors, all our staff undergo regular competency assessments – both internal and external – to ensure no knowledge gaps impacting a patient’s health diagnosis. Monthly lab reviews and error meetings are held to identify gaps or errors and find solutions to rectify them.
Tentpole
The last pillar is our tentpole philosophy. It refers to the existence of centres of excellence under one roof in an accessible location. Although our CoEs do work in separate fields, they constantly learn from each other and adapt processes and successes. This kind of cross-collaboration is actively encouraged and is made possible because they all function under one metaphorical tent.
These 6 Ts stand on a solid bedrock formed over 28 years, and hence they form the core of our centres of excellence. Our work culture, obsession with quality, customer-centricity, accessibility, reliability and impeccable logistics have laid the groundwork for these centres of excellence.
Infectious Diseases
Suburban Diagnostics covers the entire spectrum of bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections through a comprehensive range of molecular microbiology and serology tests.
The stated aim of our centre is to:
- Provide early and confirmatory diagnosis
- Research and monitor the antibiotic trends to help optimize antibiotic usage
- Interrupt transmission in hospital and community
- Support timely clinical management
- Minimize mortality and progression to severe illness
Our centre of excellence for infectious disorders offers end-to-end solutions for lab diagnosis of all significant infections, including:
- Bacterial testing
- Mycobacterial testing
- Viral testing
- Fungal testing
We offer both manual and automated culture and sensitivity for bacteria as well as mycobacteria. Every bacterial culture report is as per the standards set by the CLSI, with MIC values and breakpoint MIC values provided so that the physician can make the most informed decision. Apart from cultures and microscopy for diagnosing and monitoring bacteria, we also offer molecular multiplex Biofire FilmArray solutions for easy and quick diagnosis of serious infections. We also have numerous molecular PCR based tests designed to detect and diagnose common bacterial infections quickly.
We also have end to end serological and molecular testing for all significant viruses, including, but not limited to, HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, CMV, EBV, HSV, Dengue, Chikungunya, H1N1, H3N2, SARS-CoV-2, HPV etc. Molecular testing to determine genotype, viral load and resistance to drugs for HIV, Hepatitis B is also available. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our COE regularly upscaled our testing capabilities to provide the best possible support to the community and the government.
We are a national leader in fungal testing, being the only private laboratory in India to perform fungal drug sensitivity for dermatophytes (fungal infections of the skin, hair and nails). This being in addition to performing fungal culture on a wide variety of samples and molecular PCR-based methods to detect fungal infections. Our testing panels have been designed to give the best and fastest possible diagnoses in conditions that have long required sequential testing. For example, our revolutionary Fever Detect 5 in 1 panel is one such panel that can detect the five most common tropical infections in India (malaria, typhoid, leptospirosis, dengue, chikungunya) from a single blood draw. Another example would be our sexually transmitted disease panels which can detect up to 7 STDs from a single morning urine sample. We have similar testing panels for specific conditions such as meningitis, pneumonia, upper respiratory infections and gastrointestinal infections. In addition, our BioFire FilmArray solutions include testing for viruses, bacteria, resistance genes and fungi in the comprehensive panels that we provide. We also provide testing options to assist hospitals and other health care institutions – such as OT sterility testing, MRSA screening etc. Our potable water testing for coliform bacteria is also widely used to test water sources used for consumption or daily use.
Antibiotic stewardship is also something we are passionate about, and our in-house microbiologists regularly consult with infectious disease specialists, physicians and surgeons to optimize the use of antibiotics.
Women’s Health
Our centre of excellence for women’s health is a multidisciplinary division focusing on women and encompassing testing areas like hormones, histopathology, maternal care, infections and general health.
Our centre of excellence aims to provide high-quality, expert diagnostic services for women in all stages of life and through our outreach programs to empower women to take greater ownership of their health.
Through our centre of excellence, we provide:
- Hormonal testing
- Autoimmune disease testing
- Pre-natal and ante-natal testing solutions
- Infectious testing (in conjunction with our CoE in Infectious Diseases)
- Oncology screening, diagnosis and prognostic testing (in conjunction with TEAL(TM))
- General health checkups and testing with a focus on women-specific issues
Some of the most common issues plaguing women today are hormone-related. Our CoE provides end to end solutions for hormone testing to help diagnose and monitor hormone-related conditions. We also have customized testing packages for specific conditions like PCOS, for example, designed to help doctors provide the best possible care.
Another everyday health issue more predominant in women are autoimmune diseases. We have a very extensive testing menu for antibodies that can assist in the diagnosis of the vast majority of autoimmune conditions. In addition, specialized test profiles for conditions such as antiphospholipid antibody syndrome are available, along with profiles for bad obstetric history for which autoimmune disorders are a significant cause.
We have both radiological and pathological testing for the diagnosis and monitoring of pregnancy. Antenatal packages are available in all shapes and sizes to suit the needs of every woman. In addition, maternal risk markers and non-invasive prenatal testing provide greater chances of early diagnosis of congenital disabilities and genetic disorders.
In conjunction with our CoE for infectious diseases, we also provide infectious disease testing specific to women. For example, HPV detection and genotyping, diagnosis of TORCH infections, UTI testing, TB testing etc., have a place in our test menu.
Along with our TEAL(TM) Oncology division, we provide an accurate diagnosis of cancers specific to women. Ranging from histopathology, immunohistochemistry, molecular PCR testing, gene sequencing and gene expression profiling, we provide the best testing methodologies to help early, accurate diagnosis and help guide treatment. Women also face many general health issues, osteoporosis being one great example. We have solutions for those too. We have numerous preventive health packages for women, of all ages, in conjunction with our wellness division.
Supporting all our efforts at this CoE is our radiology division. We have state of the art instruments providing sonography, X-ray, doppler and bone mineral density testing to help diagnose and monitor numerous conditions.
Hematology
The Suburban CoE in Hematology is the latest addition to the list of CoEs. The contribution of Hematological tests in the day-to-day management of patients across all specialities of Medicine can be appreciated when one realizes that anaemia is one of the most typical signs in medical practice, and complete blood count (CBC) is one of the most common investigations ordered across the world. Hematology is a speciality that has developed phenomenally in the past couple of decades, and the role of Laboratory or Diagnostic Hematology has become that much more critical in managing hematological disorders. One must not confuse Hematology tests with any “blood test” or any test performed on a blood sample. Hematology tests are performed to diagnose, characterize and monitor diseases of the hemopoietic and blood-clotting systems, e.g. various types of anaemia, high or low blood cell counts, inherited abnormalities of haemoglobin and red cell enzymes, acquired hemolytic anaemias, bleeding and thrombotic disorders and blood cancers (leukaemia/lymphoma). As in other subspecialties of Laboratory Medicine, hem nalyzers with onboard AI to interpret algorithms developed by the user. The use and transmission of digital images and data allow sharing of information among instruments and laboratory personnel located at different places, thereby facilitating better interaction among them and better interpretation of complex laboratory data.
CBC at the Hematology CoE is performed on a fully automated analyzer with an integrated automated slide stainer. A digital image analyzer examines the cell morphology of the stained smears. This happens sequentially and significantly reduces the time taken for manual preparation, staining and microscopic examination of a smear, thereby decreasing the overall TAT of an abnormal CBC. The analyzer has the technical capability to give the correct platelet count when the count is meagre (<50X109/dl), something many other analyzers cannot do. This problem is clinically highly relevant in dengue and malaria infections. Recovery of the low platelet count can also be predicted in these diseases from some specific platelet parameters measured by the analyzer. Both immature platelets and immature reticulocytes can be counted and analyzed on the analyzer. The presence of malaria and abnormal leucocytes is flagged by the analyzer prompting a thorough review of the smears. Unflagged CBCs can be released without a smear examination in most cases. This reduces the TAT of normal CBCs. Reports of all abnormal CBCs are terminated after a review of the results by experts. The same is accompanied by an interpretative description, the possible diagnosis/differential diagnosis and advice on the future course of action.
The latest high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) systems are used for the diagnosis of thalassemias and hemoglobinopathies. All abnormal HPLC results are reviewed and the CBC data by a group of medical experts before releasing the reports. The reports contain advice on the future course of action. Investigation of family members is advised for assessing the inheritance pattern of the hemoglobinopathy. The CoE also offers hemoglobinopathy screening for to-be-married couples and women planning babies.
The in addition to the routine coagulation tests (e.g. Prothrombin time, Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time, Thrombin time, Fibrinogen, D-Dimer and FDP), Hematology performs all tests required to diagnose and characterize bleeding and thrombotic states. Both abridged and expanded test panels for diagnosing the cause of venous thrombosis are offered by the CoE. The test panels include tests for Lupus Anticoagulants and Antiphospholipid Antibodies (APLA) and inherited thrombophilia, e.g. Factor V Leiden and Prothrombin gene mutations. Judicious use of these tests and test panels are advised to the treating physicians to extract maximum information and avoid unnecessary testing or over-testing.
Flow Cytometric Immunophenotyping is an area of strength of the Hematology CoE. It offers several high-end and complex tests in Flow Cytometry such as enumeration of lymphocyte subsets (T- and B-lymphocytes and their subsets), Natural Killer (NK) cell profiling and enumeration, Primary Immunodeficiency testing, HLA B-27 typing (with the reflexed molecular assay in cases of indeterminate results), acute leukaemia and chronic lymphoproliferative disorder immunophenotyping using exhaustive, well-designed, and well thought out reagent panels; multiple myeloma diagnosis by using a reagent panel consisting of a variety of novel antibodies. Stringent quality control and high-end technologies and platforms are used for Flow Cytometric Immunophenotyping.
The Hematology CoE is led by a senior and reputed Hematopathologist, and he is supported by a team of highly trained and competent Hematopathologists and technical staff.
Please click here to view our wide test menu.
Our Team
Quality Assurance
National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) and College of American Pathologists (CAP) accreditations ensure that labs follow the stringent quality protocols set up by these bodies. This, in turn, ensures control over man, machine, environment and processes.
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Internal Quality Assurance Protocols
Quality is a dynamic concept which is ultimately defined by customer expectations and satisfaction. At Suburban Diagnostics, we ensure customer satisfaction is achieved with QMS through the alignment of people, process and technology.
Personnel
Training, Competency & CMEs
- Ensure hiring of qualified staff as per role based qualification criteria
- Detailed training programs for each level of staff (Star desk staff to Pathologist)
- Enrollment in CAP Competency programs for all technical lab staff
- Competency assessment score are compared with worldwide peer group
- Internal & external CMEs for all
Equipment
The control and calibration of equipment used to measure the quality are integral to the success of QMS. To ensure high quality results:
- All validated equipment is used after in-house verification.
- All equipment is calibrated periodically.
- Equipment service and maintenance programs are strictly followed.
Process control
QMS are inherently process-driven approaches to quality control and assurance. Internal quality control (IQC) and external quality assurance (EQA) are distinct processes that contribute to ensure the overall quality (i.e., correctness) of laboratory test procedures.
- IQC ensures day-to-day consistency of an analytical process, which is centrally monitored by the QA team through BIORAD Unity Software.
- EQA programs are used to periodically assess the quality of a lab’s performance as compared with peer performance and achieve added confidence in patient test results, we participate in International and national PT programs like CAP Proficiency Testing, BIORAD, AIIMS, CMC Vellore, RML, TATA.
Occurrence Management
Dedicated team for handling occurrence, each occurrence is logged, detailed root cause analysis is done and immediate, corrective & preventive actions are taken and documented.
Internal Audits
An internal audit is an important component to ensure optimal performance of a quality management system.
- Periodic audits are conducted for all the locations to ensure test result accuracy, reliability and on-time delivery.
- Audits are done as per ISO 15189 standard checklists.
- The findings are documented and corrected within a defined time frame to ensure compliance.
Document Control
Effective records-keeping is crucial to the success of the QMS, the ability to obtain certification with QMS standards, and for regulatory compliance.
- All the control documents reflect the current processes and are reviewed and approved by authorised designees.
- The documents and records are retained as per defined retention periods
Continuous Improvement
Continuous improvement and adaptations are necessary for organizations to drive benefits with the QMS and maintain customer satisfaction.
- Quality Indicators: The key improvement area is identified from each phase of pre-analytic, analytic and post-analytic. Targets are defined for achievements and are monitored on a regular interval. Corrective actions are taken for observed gaps.
- Risk Analysis: Risk analysis is done for identified critical processes to mitigate the risk and the outcome is monitored and audited periodically.
Facilities and Safety
We grow a culture of safety within the organization, with safety protocols and its implementation. The programs are defined to prevent accidents, illness and injuries while reducing environmental toxins and spillage.
- Safety training programs for all staff
- Sample transport management
- Waste management
- Ergonomics
Initiatives
The Red Cause
THE RED CAUSE is a social initiative by Suburban Diagnostics. This open to all digital platform is easy to access and raise blood, platelet or plasma requests on. The request is then shared digitally amongst a database of relevant volunteer donors with an objective of finding a viable donor. Once a donor accepts a request, the donor and recipient are connected by the platform. The aim is to bridge the gap between demand and supply, especially in an emergency.
Know MoreOur Journey through COVID-19 Pandemic
Suburban Diagnostics was one of the first private labs to recieve ICMR approval for COVID-19 testing. Having completed 17lac+ tests till date, we have been one of the frontrunners in the nation's fight against COVID-19. The outbreak of the pandemic was an event that pushed us to perform the best we ever had.
The outbreak for Suburban Diagnostics was an event that pushed us to perform the best we ever had and tested our commitment to impact the health outcomes. The dedication of our team to deliver results amidst the crisis is commendable and we thank them for their hard work and our patrons for their trust and support.
Here is a short glimpse of steps we took to make your health and safety our priority during COVID-19:
HIGH-QUALITY TEST KITS
We use highly sensitive ICMR approved collection kits with the recommended plastic shafted, synthetic fiber flocked swabs post a thorough in-house validation.
INTENSIVE TRAINING
Our COVID-19 sample collection & processing staff have been intensively trained to ensure minimised chances of false results due to inefficient sampling.
ADEQUATE SAMPLE REPRESENTATION
Both oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swabs are collected from each patient, ensuring adequate representation of the sample and reliability of the result.
DEDICATED LOGISTICS TEAM
A dedicated logistics team ensures all samples are transported as per ICMR & WHO guidelines, maintaining the recommended temperature during transport, ensuring the viability of samples.
EFFICIENT LOGISTICAL CHAIN
High frequency of transport rounds are maintained with a continuous supply of reagents and consumables to ensure that sample collection, transport and processing happen without any delay.
PERIODIC QUALITY CHECKS
Viral RNA extraction is automated to guarantee consistency. Quality checks are instituted to prevent cross-contamination; samples are reprocessed if there is an internal control failure or any other indication of an assay related problem.
MINIMISING HUMAN ERROR
A strict maker-checker system is followed for any step that requires manual intervention, to minimise human error.
REAL-TIME UPDATION SYSTEMS
A squad of data entry operators, supervised by the quality assurance team, update the ICMR in real-time regarding all the COVID-19 tests conducted.
CT VALUES
CT values are provided with every report. These have been shown to have an approximate correlation with the disease's progression and are highly requested for clinical correlation.
INTERNATIONAL SAFETY STANDARDS
All employees are intermittently given refresher training on safety protocols to ensure strict compliance and implementation of these standards.
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE
We use high throughput, high-quality PCR platforms which undergo periodic maintenance to ensure maximum processing capacity.
INTER-LABORATORY COMPARISON
A monthly inter-laboratory comparison is performed with the testing centre at Kasturba Govt. Hospital in Mumbai. A track record of satisfactory concordance scores is received on each occasion.
All of this didn’t happen in one day, as the cases grew we made sure that we are ready to handle the volumes:
