Department Profile
Central Instruments Laboratory, Mannuthy
Central Instruments laboratory (CIL) of CoVAS, Mannuthy is the central facility with state-of-the art analytical instruments to fulfill the needs of the faculty and research scholars and is well equipped with high end sophisticated instruments. The facilities are extensively used by post graduate as well as doctoral research scholars. This facility is also extended to external organizations, mainly academic institutions in and around of the region at nominal rates. The laboratory functions from 9 a.m to 5.30 p.m. on all working days ( 6 days week).
An area of 3,500 sq.ft. made ready to use at six laboratory spaces (CIL I to VI) to house 61 sophisticated high end equipment with air-conditioning facility and UPS cum generator back up. The total cost of the equipment purchased so far is around Rs.13.94 crores. One time grant (ICAR- EFC Central Government assistance) was effectively utilized for the purchase of the equipment during 2013 & 14, while ICAR – Development grant was used during 2015, 2016 and 2017. At present one professor, one assistant professor, one instrumentation engineer, one office assistant, two laboratory technicians and a laboratory attender are engaged as work force of the Central Instruments Laboratory.
Catalogues with standard operating procedure for the major sophisticated equipment have been made available for the staff and students to refer. National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration of Laboratories (NABL) has already approved and certified certain biological scopes of CIL in 2016.
From April 2014 to August 2018, a total of 32 batches comprising 409 trainees have undergone short term hands-on training on modern analytical research techniques used in veterinary and allied sciences (66 staff members and 343 students). The trainees include faculty, PG students PhD students from KVASU and faculty from Kerala agricultural University, Engineering colleges and Medical Colleges of Thrissur.
A revolving fund project operating at Central Instruments Laboratory generated income sufficient to meet at least 50% of the annual maintenance cost of equipment. A nominal usage fee has been levied from research students for 21 out of 61 equipment used in order to meet their operational expenses. Usage/ service/ testing fee are being levied for all equipment from principle investigators of various projects (KVASU and outsiders). The laboratory is registered under GST.