SRL Ranbaxy has the exclusive panel of tests available to detect the candidate virus of SARS. As a prophylactic move, the laboratory has approached the ministry of health and will soon be submitting a formal proposition to the honourable minister, Mrs. Sushma Swaraj, for contributing their services to combat the deadly epidemic.

The laboratory plans to submit a proposal mentioning the three main panels for the SARS diagnosis, namely the Viral Pneumonia Panel, the Bacterial Pneumonia Panel and a combination of the two, comprising of a series of tests that put all doubts about SARS detection to rest. The tests are conducted through a technologically advanced method known as a PCR technique, that delivers results almost immediately. SRL Ranbaxy also offers PCR assays and antibody tests for the entire range of common respiratory pathogens. These new validated test panels promise to help doctors and health bodies in the country to arrive at a specific diagnosis of acute respiratory illnesses that resemble the SARS being described by the health authorities of the affected nations.

According to Dr. Sumedha Sahni, Director-Operations, SRL Ranbaxy, "The sudden emergence of SARS, on the earth's Eastern horizon, has caught the world off guard. There is a sudden painful awareness of the total obliteration of all geographical boundaries due to unhindered global travel. It is a sheer coincidence, that the SARS epidemic, hit at a time when SRL Ranbaxy was already working on developing tests to identify and detect, certain complicated pneumonia viruses. At SRL Ranbaxy, we have always considered the geographical spread of India as a major cause of concern. Isolation of SARS affected citizens will be a gigantic challenge, due to the sheer size of the population. With diverse climatic conditions and factors such as lower nutrition levels and poor civic and sanitation amenities, India is a very soft target for a quick spread of the epidemic. With the BMC (Bombay Municipal Corporation) and other clinical reference labs lacking the facilities to conduct specialized tests even for detecting the cold virus or the viral pneumonia, we are trying our best to extend our specialized services to the nation to combat the SARS epidemic. At SRL Ranbaxy, it is our constant endeavor to provide world class clinical laboratory tests of the highest quality and the latest state-of-the-art technologies."

According to Vidur Kaushik, CEO SRL Ranbaxy," At a time when the country is at the threshold of facing an epidemic exigency, we at SRL Ranbaxy have proactively developed systems to address public fears and meet all the required diagnostic needs to face the SARS challenge. Our streamlined services and efficient sample moving techniques provide us with an edge to extend our services across the country in 24 hours. The ministry of health has been very quick in its response to our proposal, we very soon hope to meet the relevant officials and the honourable minister Mrs. Sushma Swaraj, to discuss the modalities of the proposition at length."

SRL Ranbaxy is also planning to set up a unique public address system at their main laboratory in Mumbai to counsel people and address their fears about SARS. It aims to extend this address system service to their satellite labs, collection centres through their website. They are also planning to provide this service through their helpline 1600.

SRL Ranbaxy is known for conducting and participating in continuous quality assurance programs (both internal and external) to ensure quality standards right from specimen collection (handling & storage), qualified staff, levels of training, equipment, technology and accurate reports. It is the country's first NABL CAP (College Of American pathologists) and ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory. The laboratory due to its technological expertise was recently the focus for restoring the national honour, in the case of a well-known athlete who was charged guilty of doping.