The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has launched an advanced blood testing service that enables doctors to more accurately treat epilepsy patients and reduce the risk of medicine-related side effects.
The new facility at AIIMS’ Neurosciences Centre will monitor the levels of two commonly used anti-epilepsy medicines, levetiracetam and lamotrigine, in a patient’s blood. This specialized testing, known as Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM), started this week and is currently being provided free of cost.
Addressing Critical Treatment Gaps
Doctors emphasize that the same dose of anti-epileptic medication may affect patients differently, and incorrect drug levels can either fail to control seizures or cause toxicity. The test helps doctors personalize treatment by adjusting medicine doses according to the patient’s response, body chemistry, and risk of side effects.
“Advanced neurodiagnostic facilities are helping improve diagnosis and treatment of complex neurological disorders,” said Prof S.B. Gaikwad, chief of the Neurosciences Centre.
Significant Cost Savings for Patients
AIIMS officials said the tests may later be offered at highly subsidised rates as per the institute’s policy. At present, similar tests in private laboratories cost between Rs 6,000 and Rs 10,000 for each drug.
This represents a substantial saving for epilepsy patients, who often require years of medication and regular monitoring.
Expanded TDM Services
This latest initiative builds on AIIMS’ earlier launch of free TDM testing for four other commonly prescribed anti-epileptic drugs, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, valproic acid, and phenytoin, which began in January 2026.
Previously, patients had to spend between Rs 390 and Rs 1,880 for TDM tests at private laboratories, depending on the medication being tested. The absence of in-house facilities had forced patients to rely on private laboratories, causing both treatment delays and financial strain.
Advanced Technology Enables Precision Care
Prof Ashok Sharma, professor in charge of the Neurobiochemistry Laboratory, explained that only a small blood sample is needed for the test and reports will be available online through the e-Hospital and ORS portals.
The earlier TDM facility uses a Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (CLIA) system, an advanced laboratory technology that detects substances through light produced during a chemical reaction, offering high sensitivity and specificity.
Wide Accessibility
The facility is available for both the outpatient department (OPD) and admitted patients at AIIMS New Delhi and also at the NCI-AIIMS Jhajjar campus. OPD sample collection at AIIMS Delhi’s Collection Centre, Room number 3, is conducted between 8:30 am and 1:00 pm.
The AIIMS administration has directed all departments and centres, including the National Cancer Institute in Jhajjar, to send patient samples to the designated in-house laboratory to streamline testing.
Impact on Patient Care
The TDM facility can help identify cases where medicines are not reaching effective levels despite regular intake, enabling doctors to make necessary adjustments. This is crucial for ensuring optimal seizure control while minimizing adverse effects.
Hospital officials said the move is expected to improve treatment adherence, enable safer long-term management of epilepsy, and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure for patients and their families.
The initiative provides substantial financial relief, particularly to economically weaker patients who previously had to undergo these tests at private facilities.
