BANGALORE, November 7: Specialty Ranbaxy Ltd, a Ranbaxy group company, has set up a clinical reference laboratory in Bangalore. The laboratory is expected to be a hub for the southern states and is the first satellite lab of Specialty Ranbaxy, said company sales director Deepak Chhabra.

It is equipped to conduct over 200 tests and the other test offerings as part of the 500 specialised tests will be forwarded to the main lab at Mumbai, he added.

The company is bridging the geographic distance and making available all information to the needy medical practitioners. "Aiming at rural as well as urban markets in Karnataka, we will collect samples from such areas and send to the Bangalore centre. The company plans to open such centres in Mysore, Shimoga and Tumkur next year. This will help the patients in getting tests done as early as possible," he said.

According to Chhabra, the company is also plans to enter into tie-ups with small laboratories in Karnataka to spread its wings to all parts of the state.

Specialty Ranbaxy in association with Specialty Laboratories Inc (SLI) of the US will develop new assays specifically aimed at the country's clinical needs. SLI has already developed over 400 assays in the last 15 years and is recognised for work with World Health Organisation (WHO) and National Institutes of Health of the USA.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.