The Department of Microbiology was established at the same time as the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University (on 3 June 1947) and has been operating for more than 77 years. Initially, the Department of Microbiology was only a work unit under the Pathology Department which was located at Saiyud Bunnag Building or Phakpaiboon Building (a wooden building). This building was later dismantled and replaced by the new Preventive Medicine Building.
When the Pathology Department was relocated to the newly built, three-story Pathology Building (this Building was later dismantled and is currently a public ground), it remained a work unit on the first floor of the Pathology Building whose work was limited to bacteria cultivation. After the Microbiology Unit collaborated with medical doctors from the US Army in certain R&D projects, its operation had been expanded to include virus infection related services following the fact that virus infection was Thailand’s top public health problem. These operations led to the expansion of its academic and laboratory functions. During this period the Microbiology Unit was elevated to a departmental status after the enactment of the royal decree to establish new departments at the University of Medicine.
Key achievement of The Department of Microbiology
1972 – 1977 Development projects for various Autoantibody tests.
1981 National Streptococcus Center.
1984 Tissue Typing Laboratory was established.
1985 First diagnosis of 2 patients infected with AIDS in Thailand.
1986 Blood sample collection on blotting paper.
1986 New detecting method of IgM rubella antibodies with solid-phase immunosorbent hemagglutination inhibition techniques.
1987 Diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydophila psittaci and Chlamydophila pneumoniae.
1991 – 1992 The complete study of rabies research.
1991 – 1994 The first test of ARV drugs in Thailand.
1993 Detection of TB by PCR technique.
1993 Development of Molecular Biology for diagnosis of HIV, HBV, HEV and Dengue virus.
1994 The first HIV vaccine test in Thailand.
1999 Molecular biology test for Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
2000 Species analysis of bacteria using DNA sequencing techniques.
2002 Molecular Biology Test for Chlamydia pneumoniae.
2007 Specific HLA-B*15:02 Test to prevent drug hypersensitivity.
2009 The Use of NAT (Nucleic Acid Technology) for Blood Screening.
2012 The clinical study of EBV-specific T cells to treat cancer.
2012 Primers and methods of detecting and classifying Pythium Insidiosum at subgroup level by the analysis method of Hi-Res solution Melting.
2019 Open service of Beta Glucan to rapidly detect fungal infection as the first and only service in Thailand.
2020 Implement the serology diagnosis for Syphilis using Reverse Algorithm.
2020 Firstly Service Immuno-Electrophoresis detection from Cryoglobulin.
Vision
To produce high quality graduates to be leaders of the society. We are committed to creating high quality research projects for further application and creation of new bodies of knowledge as well as providing accurate, precise, and prompt laboratory services that comply with the international quality standards. Produce research works that can be used as a national reference source.
Mission
- Contribute to the production of undergraduate and postgraduate medical doctors with excellent academic knowledge and ethical standards.
- Provide academic services to other organizations and communities.
- Provide quality services that are nationally and internationally recognized.
- Produce outstanding researches at the national and international levels on a continuing basis.
- Promote and preserve national culture and traditions.
Departmental structure
The Department of Microbiology consists of:
- Bacteriology unit
- Virology unit
- Mycology unit
- Immunology unit
- Central laboratory
Special operation units for research and development excellence
- Excellence Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Thai Red Cross Society (under the Excellence Chulalongkorn Comprehensive Cancer Center).
- Center of Excellence in Immunology and Immune-mediated Diseases
- Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development
- Applied Medical Virology Research Unit
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Research Unit
- Translational Research in Inflammation and Immunology Research Unit
Services
The Department of Microbiology provides microbiology laboratory services of bacteriological, virological, mycological, and immunological testing and analysis for the Outpatient and Inpatient Departments, Emergency Room Department of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital and for other organizations outside the Hospital. It also provides health examination services for oversea travel. The Department’s laboratories are located on the 15th-17th Floors of H.M. King Ananda Mahidol Building. A 24-hour laboratory is also available on the 3rd Floor of Bhumisiri Mankhalanusorn Building.
Between October 2022 and September 2023, a total of 638,297 tests were performed on the specimens sent to the Department’s laboratories. In 2024, 305 tests were performed of which 173 tests were accredited by ISO15189:2012 for the laboratory standard and by ISO15190:2003163 for medical safety standard.
