Shillong, August 05 : The Department of Forensic Medicine, NEIGRIHMS has upgraded its laboratory with GCMS (Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry) facility. This analytical equipmentenables accurate identification and quantification of various types of poisons from clinical and autopsy samples of blood and urine. The facility was formally inaugurated on 2nd August 2025, by NEIGRIHMS Director, Prof. (Dr.) Nalin Mehta, whose dynamic leadership has led the institute towards excellence in the field of medical science.
Prof. AJ Patowary, HoD Department of Forensic Medicine informed that the lab will start testing for samples from in-house departments of NEIGRIHMS for qualitative and quantitative assessment of blood alcohol and will subsequently extend these services to other institutes with inclusion of a wider range of poisons for analysis. The facility will be of great value in the region for toxicology analysis in police investigation.
In addition, the Department of Forensic Medicine also completed hands-on training on Virtual Autopsy with six participants from various premier institutes of India. It is noteworthy that the training was conducted with funding from DHR (Department of Health Research). Director NEIGRIHMS distributed the certificates to participants on successful completion of the training.
Dr. Mehta in his address, lauded the department for its efforts to start this new venture and expected that the knowledge acquired by participants during the training would be disseminated to other parts of the country as well. Prof. (Dr.) C. Daniala, Dean In-Charge, and Medical Superintendent, Prof. (Dr.) Suvamoy Chakraborty congratulated the department for its achievements.
