Government Medical College Thiruvananthapuram was established in 1951, and the laboratory medicine functions began as a combined Department of Bacteriology alongside anatomy, physiology and biochemistry when the college opened. That original bacteriology unit included early microbiology, pathology and hygiene activities. From the start the department provided diagnostic microbiology services to the Medical College Hospital (MCH) and supported clinical training for undergraduate students. In the decades that followed the laboratory played an active role in responding to infectious disease events. Teaching and postgraduate training Microbiology is part of the college’s clinical and academic structure and now offers postgraduate training (MD in Microbiology), contributing to specialist workforce development and to diagnostic and infection-control services at MCH. Coordinates the Hospital Infection Control Committee of the institute and ensures implementation of infection control practices to prevent and contain infections within the hospital.Department gives microbiology training to students of various UG and PG courses. The department is providing 24 hour laboratory service to the public. The following activities of national importance are carried out through the Department namely State Reference Laboratory for HIV and STI, Viral Research Diagnostics Laboratory (VRDL) under DHR-ICMR Scheme ICMR recognized testing centre for SARS CoV2, Influenza, Zika and Monkey Pox, Hospital based sentinel surveillance of Streptococcus pneumoniae and other invasive bacterial diseases (HBSSS and IBD),National Viral Hepatitis Surveillance of Viral Hepatitis, Surveillance of Congenital Rubella syndrome, KARSAP (Kerala Antimicrobial Resistance Strategic Action Plan) – State Nodal Centre -The KARSAP has been developed involving multiple sectors and it addresses a wide range of activities required to tackle Anti Microbial Resistance problem effectively. Department of Microbiology, GMC, Thiruvananthapuram has been the nodal centre since then. Performs WHONET data entry and analysis, KARS-NET review meetings and training workshops for network laboratories.