Kolkata, November 2026: Suraksha Diagnostic Limited, one of Eastern India’s leading diagnostic chains, today announced the launch of the Suraksha Institute of Genomics (SIG), bringing some of the most advanced genomic tests in clinical practice to Kolkata. With SIG, clinicians in the city and across Eastern India now have local access to the genomic testing that increasingly guides care across the continuum, from reproductive health and prenatal care to rare diseases and cancer treatment.Genomic testing has moved from research into everyday clinical decision-making. Targeted cancer therapies depend on identifying specific genetic alterations in a tumour. Chromosomal microarray is now the recommended first-tier test for children with developmental delay, autism or birth defects and for pregnancies with abnormal ultrasound findings. Exome sequencing is ending long diagnostic journeys for families affected by rare conditions. Until now, many of these samples had to travel to laboratories in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Chennai, adding days to turnaround times, exposing time-sensitive samples to the risks of long-distance transport and delaying treatment decisions. With SIG, these samples can now be processed in Kolkata, with expert interpretation and a strong focus on quality.In cancer care, SIG offers comprehensive genomic profiling covering hundreds of cancer genes, a 50-gene solid tumour panel that analyses DNA and RNA from a single biopsy with reports available in as early as 3 working days, and cancer-specific panels for lung, colorectal, breast, thyroid, brain, pancreatic and other cancers.
These tests detect the mutations, gene fusions and copy number changes that determine eligibility for targeted therapies. SIG also offers BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing and hereditary cancer panels, helping clinicians identify patients who may benefit from PARP inhibitor therapy and relatives who may be at increased risk.For expectant parents and their doctors, SIG offers non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) from 10 weeks of pregnancy, screening for trisomies 21, 18 and 13 and sex chromosome aneuploidies from a single maternal blood sample. Diagnostic testing includes rapid QF-PCR, chromosomal microarray, karyotyping and FISH, while genetic analysis of pregnancy loss helps couples understand why a miscarriage occurred and plan for the future.For children and families with suspected genetic conditions, SIG offers chromosomal microarray, whole exome sequencing with trio analysis, targeted gene panels, beta-thalassaemia variant analysis, and MLPA for single-gene deletions and duplications in conditions such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Pharmacogenomic testing helps doctors tailor drug choice and dosing to a patient’s genetic profile.These tests run on a portfolio of complementary platforms, including the automated Ion Torrent Genexus System for rapid tumour profiling, the Ion GeneStudio S5 System with Ion Chef, the high-throughput Illumina NextSeq 2000, the GeneChip System for chromosomal microarray, and a genetic analyser for Sanger sequencing, QF-PCR and MLPA, alongside conventional cytogenetics. Every result is interpreted by specialists using international guidelines, including the ACMG/AMP standards for inherited variants and the AMP/ASCO/CAP guidelines for cancer variants.Dr Somnath Chatterjee, Chairman and Joint Managing Director, Suraksha Diagnostic Limited, said: “Genomics is changing the way we diagnose, treat and prevent disease, from choosing the right cancer therapy to understanding why a child is unwell or a pregnancy is at risk. With the Suraksha Institute of Genomics, we are bringing this science into everyday clinical practice in Kolkata, backed by the commitment to accuracy and service that has defined Suraksha for more than three decades.”Ritu Mittal, Joint Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Suraksha Diagnostic Limited, added: “At the Suraksha Institute of Genomics, we bring advanced diagnostic capabilities together as Eastern India’s first comprehensive genomic laboratory, making advanced genomic diagnostics accessible to patients and doctors across the region.”About Suraksha Institute of Genomics (SIG)The Suraksha Institute of Genomics is the dedicated clinical genomics institute of Suraksha Diagnostic Limited, based in Kolkata. SIG offers next-generation sequencing, chromosomal microarray, cytogenetics and molecular diagnostics across reproductive and prenatal genetics, rare and inherited disorders, cancer genomics and pharmacogenomics.About Suraksha Diagnostic LimitedEstablished in 1992 in Kolkata, Suraksha Diagnostic Limited is an integrated diagnostic services provider offering pathology, radiology and medical consultation services through a network of diagnostic centres and sample collection centres across Eastern India.
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