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Please note, the following list is for guidance only and is not intended to be exhaustive. We accept and test many different kinds of clinical sample including tissue samples. If you are unsure of the appropriateness of a particular sample, please contact us before sending it. Please also note the following points.
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TARGET
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PREFERRED SAMPLE
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Blood-borne viral infections
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HCV and HBV (including detection, quantitation, genotyping & resistance screening) |
Plasma or serum
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| HIV-1 proviral DNA or RNA (i.e. for primary diagnosis) | EDTA whole blood |
| HIV-1 RNA Quantitation | Blood should be taken into EDTA tubes. The plasma should be separated within 6 hours of blood collection and shipped at room temperature for next day delivery. |
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HIV-1 Anti-Retroviral drug resistance screening
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Blood should be taken into EDTA tubes. The plasma should
be separated within 2 hours of blood collection and shipped at room temperature
for next day delivery.
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Respiratory infections
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Respiratory viruses or bacteria
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Any respiratory specimen is acceptable e.g. sputum,
BAL, NPA, nasopharyngeal swab etc.
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Genitourinary infections
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Chlamydia/gonococcus (female)
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Endocervical swab + first pass urine*
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Chlamydia/gonococcus (male)
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Urethral swab + first pass urine*
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*We will process specimens together
as one for economy: the two separate sites of sampling increase the sensitivity
of the test. We will also accept single samples.
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Chlamydia/gonococcus and HPV
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Endocervical swab sent in plain tube or ‘thin prep’
endocervical cellular specimens#
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#We are also able to arrange cytological
preparation and review of thin preps. Please contact us about this service.
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Herpes simplex infection
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Endocervical or vulval lesions: rub a dry swab over
the area and return it to a plain DRY holder
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Infections associated with post-transplant
or immunocompromised patients
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CMV or EBV DNA viral load
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EDTA whole blood or serum (plain or gel tube). EDTA
is ideal but serum will be acceptable.
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Adenovirus (quantitation)
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EDTA whole blood
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Adenovirus (detection and genotyping)
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Any appropriate sample (please contact us if unsure)
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Polyoma BK
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EDTA whole blood or urine
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Polyoma JC
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EDTA whole blood, CSF or urine
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Infections important in pregnancy
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Parvovirus
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EDTA whole blood, amniotic fluid
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Toxoplasma
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EDTA whole blood, amniotic fluid
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CMV
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EDTA whole blood, amniotic fluid, cervical swab
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Rubella
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EDTA whole blood, serum (for antibodies)
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Measles
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EDTA whole blood, serum, urine, saliva, nasopharyngeal
swab
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HSV
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Vulval/vaginal swab
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Intracellular organisms
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Tropheryma whippelii
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Almost any cellular material is acceptable including
EDTA whole blood. PLEASE DO NOT SEND SERUM.
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Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex
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