Top News

AIIMSImage Credit source: Getty Images

A new facility has been started for epilepsy patients at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, through which drug monitoring tests will now be available at low cost. Through this new service, doctors will be able to find out the exact amount of medicine in the patient's body and decide the dosage of the medicine as per the need. This will help in making the treatment more accurate, safe and effective.

Till now, for such special tests, patients had to resort to expensive private labs or other referral centers. Many patients were not able to get this test done on time due to financial reasons, which could have affected the treatment. This new facility of AIIMS Delhi will provide great relief especially to the financially weak patients. this initiative epilepsy It is being considered an important step towards making the treatment more scientific and as per the needs of the patient.

For which medicines the new TDM (Therapeutic Drug Monitoring) facility started?

AIIMS Delhi has currently started the Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) service for two important epilepsy drugs, Levetiracetam and Lamotrigine. TDM is a test in which through blood sample it is found out whether the amount of medicine in the patient's body is correct or not.

It is very important to maintain the correct dosage of medicine in the treatment of epilepsy. If the medicine is less, the seizures cannot be controlled and if it is more, the side effects may increase. With the introduction of this facility, doctors will be able to control the quantity of medicine more accurately and the patient will be able to get better treatment.

What will be the benefit to the patients from this test and how will the sample be given?

Through this test, the doctor will be able to understand how much effect the medicine is having on the patient's body and whether there is a need to change the dosage or not. With this, side effects and toxicity of the medicine can be detected in time.

Only 1 to 3 mL blood sample will have to be given for testing. This sample will be taken in a plain serum bottle with a yellow lid. Since less quantity of sample is required, this process will be easy and convenient for the patients.

Where can I get the report and for which patients is this facility available?

This facility is available for both OPD and IPD patients. OPD patients can deposit their samples at counter number 3 of the collection center on the ground floor of the Neurosciences Centre. Samples of IPD patients will be taken in room number 64 located on the ground floor of NSC.

Patients will be able to see their reports on the ORS portal, while reports to doctors will be available on the e-hospital portal. This facility has also been made available in the Molecular Diagnostic Lab of NCI-AIIMS Jhajjar Campus.

TV9 Bharatvarsh

TV9 Bharatvarsh is the flagship Hindi news platform of the digital TV9 network. On this website, readers are introduced to the latest news, breaking news, analysis and ground reporting from India and abroad. TV9's website tv9hindi.com holds its place among the major Hindi websites. TV9 Hindi also has its own mobile app, where news can be read and watched through both text and video. The TV9 website covers news across diverse categories like politics, economy, sports, entertainment, health, tech and international affairs. Explainers, exclusive stories, video reports and live updates are available here. The digital segment of TV9 network has grown rapidly and reaches millions of unique users.

Read More