The Dept reached an important milestone in its history when it attained accreditation by NABL (National Accreditation & Calibration Board for Laboratories) as per ISO 15189:2007 on 01 Feb 2010, which was renewed in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024 and 2026 successfully. National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) is the only authorized and autonomous body of Govt of India, to grant accreditation in accordance with International organization for standardization (ISO) standards. It has granted NABL accreditation to Clinical Chemistry Laboratory of Dept of Biochemistry, AFMC as per the latest addition of ISO 15189:2022.

The Dept of Biochemistry is the first NABL-accredited lab in the Armed Forces Medical services and has been accredited since Jan 2010 as per ISO 15189:2007. This accreditation has been renewed every two years. The laboratory has been successful in maintaining the quality since its first accreditation in Jan 2010 and thus the laboratory was able to achieve NABL accreditation uninterrupted for the eight consecutive time as per the latest addition 15189:2022. The ISO has revised its standards in 2012 by further adding 87 new clauses, leading to more stringent quality. The NABL reaccreditation, which has been granted is applicable to almost all serum analytes as per ISO 15189:2022 and stands valid till 19 Feb 2030.

This department has the distinction of being the first Govt sector Biochemistry Laboratory to have attained NABL accreditation. This dept also has the unique distinction of conducting an External Quality Assurance Programme for all the 132 AFMS hospital laboratories of India, including one UN MISSION laboratory. Lyophilised samples are despatched to all services laboratories quarterly. Their results are analysed and each lab is graded according to its performance. The department is engaged in the following teaching activities

The Department’s passion for teaching can be judged by the fact that in the last five years, the MD students have been among the university toppers. The teaching methodology adopted is that of problem based learning exemplified by case discussions and Quality control clinics held by the department. The problem-based approach is a force multiplier for our students to become better practicing doctors.

The department offers both routine and high-end specialized biochemistry diagnostic services, to its clientele with minimum turnaround time. With its state of art molecular set up, apart from active undergraduate & post graduate research in the field of Genetics & Epigenetics, the department has started newer molecular tests in the form of Genetic testing for Thalassemia, BCR-ABL transcript sequencing for CML, JAK-2 mutation analysis for MPN, whole exome sequencing for screening of genetic disorders.

The new Genome Sequencing Lab at AFMC was inaugurated on June 27 2024 by Lt Gen Daljit Singh, AVSM, VSM, PHS, (retd) the erstwhile Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services and Senior Colonel Commandant of the Army Medical Corps. The state-of-the-art Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) facilities in the new lab include sophisticated “Nextseq 2000” and “Miniseq” analysers. Numerous healthcare fields, including genetic illnesses, oncology, transplant medicine, and reproductive medicine, have found extensive uses for NGS technology. By enabling precise identification of rare genetic abnormalities, molecular prognostication of cancers, and facilitating organ transplantation, this cutting-edge technology considerably enhances the capabilities of the AFMS. The Department has been granted a DHR-ICMR Advanced Molecular Oncology Diagnostic Services (DIAMOnDS) for research in the field of malignancies in Sep 2024. The new DIAMOnDS Molecular Lab, AFMC, Pune, was inaugurated on 28 Jan 2025 by Surg V Adm, Arti Sarin, AVSM, VSM, DGAFMS.

The Department has developed the Metabolomics Lab in Jan 2025, featuring Liquid Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (LCMS). Newborn screening for all and therapeutic drug monitoring for immunosuppressant drugs have been started. Holistic approach to newborn screening with cytogenomics, Genomics, and Metabolomics under one roof, thus providing best diagnostic modality to the patient. Universal screening for hemoglobinopathies in antenatal cases is being done by the dept of Biochemistry.