Test A-Z

Test repertoire, test turnaround, validated sample types.

Tests available
Test	Target turn-around	Validated Sample types
Client sample postage: returns and forwarding to PHE	Next day	Any^ψ
16S rRNA bacterial gene detection	2 days	Any (inc. fixed tissue) preferably from normally sterile sites
16S rRNA bacterial gene sequencing	2 days	PCR product (see detection above) or bacterial culture
Pan fungal (18S) DNA detection	3 days	Any (inc. fixed tissue) preferably from normally sterile sites
Pan fungal (18S) DNA sequencing	3 days	PCR product (see detection above) or fungal culture
Acanthamoeba DNA	2 days	For eyes - Corneal scrape, swab or contact lens, contact lens solution Meningitis - CSF
Adenovirus DNA ▲	Next day	Vitreous fluid, eye fluid, serum, skin swab, blood, plasma, urine, bronchial washings, NPA, swab (Nose, throat, eye), CSF, pericardial fluid, bone marrow.
Adenovirus DNA quantitation ▲	Next day	EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF and plasma
Adenovirus typing (Research only)	5 days	PCR product generated in-house from the sample types detailed for Adenovirus DNA
Alpha-1 antitrypsin genotyping	5 days	EDTA/citrated whole blood
Aspergillus genus DNA	5 days	EDTA/citrated whole blood/ lower respiratory sample ((BAL, bronchial washings, sputum)
Aspergillus antigen (Galactomannan) ▲	This test is scheduled on Wednesdays	Serum, BAL
Bartonella genus	2 days	EDTA whole blood, tissue
Bocavirus	Next day	Any upper / lower respiratory specimen (sputum, BAL, NPA, nasopharyngeal swab etc), BAL and NPA preferred
Bordetella pertussis DNA	2 days	NPA, perinasal and nasopharyngeal swab
Borrelia genus	2 days	EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, skin biopsy
Brucella genus DNA	3 days	EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, tissue. We do not accept cultures for safety reasons
Candida albicans DNA	2 days	EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, eye fluid
Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA See ʘ below (▲NxTAG® results only)	Next day	Any respiratory specimen (sputum, BAL, NPA, nasopharyngeal swab etc), BAL and NPA preferred
Chlamydia psittaci DNA	2 days	BAL, nasopharyngeal swab
Chlamydia trachomatis DNA If sending for confirmation in accordance with BASHH guidelines, please telephone the laboratory for further information. Individual requests for Ct are always tested in combination with Ng respectively.	2 days	Eye swab, throat swab For genitourinary: Female: Endocervical, vaginal or rectal swab, ‘Thin prep’ endocervical cellular specimens. Male: Urethral swab, first pass urine, rectal swab
Clostridium difficile (Research only)	3 days	Stool
Coronavirus 229E, HKU1, NL63 or OC43	Next day	Any upper / lower respiratory sample
Coronavirus – SARS-CoV-2 ▲	Same day	Swabs (Nose, throat), Bal, NPA, sputum.
Coxiella burnetii	Next day	EDTA whole blood, BAL and tissues. We do not accept cultures for safety reasons.
Cryptococcus neoformans DNA	Next day	CSF, EDTA whole blood
Cytomegalovirus DNA	Same day	EDTA/citrated whole blood, urine, serum/EDTA plasma, eye fluid, tissue, biopsy or respiratory specimen - BAL preferred. Pregnancy – EDTA whole blood, amniotic fluid, cervical swab, serum/plasma
Cytomegalovirus DNA quantitation	Same day	EDTA/citrated whole blood, urine, serum/EDTA plasma, eye fluid
Cytomegalovirus drug resistance (ganciclovir, foscarnet or cidofovir) (UL97 and UL54)	5 days	Whole blood, serum / plasma
Enterovirus RNA	Next day	CSF, swab, stool, tissue, serum, plasma, EDTA/citrated whole blood - may be useful in suspected meningitis cases
Enterovirus typing (Research only)	3 days	CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood, stool, respiratory samples, tissue, serum, plasma
Epstein Barr Virus DNA	Same day	EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, urine, serum, plasma, biopsy
Epstein Barr Virus DNA quantitation	Same day	EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, urine, serum, plasma
Escherichia coli DNA	2 days	CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood
Factor V Mutation + Prothrombin	5 days	EDTA / citrated whole blood
Genetic profiling for human identification and relationship testing (Human ID DNA Profiling)- extraction from bone or teeth - For identification of human remains, comparison of clinical samples and relationship testing (e.g. paternity, sibship or zygosity testing)	15 days	Bone/teeth
Genetic profiling for human identification and relationship testing (Human ID DNA Profiling) - For identification of human remains, comparison of clinical samples and relationship testing (e.g. paternity, sibship or zygosity testing)	10 days	Cheek swab, EDTA/citrated whole blood, tissue, serum, fixed tissue (least preferred sample), personal items (Hairbrush, comb, razor)
Group A Streptococcus (S.pyogenes) DNA	Next day	CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood, tissue
Group B Streptococcus (S. agalactiae) DNA	Next day	CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood, tissue
Haemochromatosis H63D C282Y	5 days	EDTA / citrated whole blood
Haemophilus ducreyi DNA	2 days	Swab
Haemophilus influenzae/parainfluenzae DNA	Next day	CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood.
HBV Core/PreCore Mutations	5 days	Serum/plasma
Hepatitis B core antibody (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday)	3 days	Li‑heparin, Na‑heparin, K2‑EDTA, K3‑EDTA, ACD, CPD, CP2D, CPDA and Na‑citrate plasma
Hepatitis B e antibody (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday)	3 days	Li‑heparin, Na‑heparin, K2‑EDTA, K3‑EDTA, ACD, CPD, CP2D, CPDA and Na‑citrate plasma
Hepatitis B e antigen (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday)	3 days	Serum preferred or Na-heparin, Li‑heparin, K2‑EDTA, K3‑EDTA, ACD, CPD, CP2D, CPDA and Na‑citrate plasma.
Hepatitis B drug resistance mutation screen ♦	5 days	At least 0.6mL Serum/plasma Please supply viral load if available.
Hepatitis B surface antibody (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday)	3 days	Serum preferred or K2/K3EDTA plasma **
Hepatitis B surface antigen (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday)	3 days	Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, Na-citrate, K2/K3- EDTA, CPDA, CPD, CP2D, ACD, citrate plasma.
Hepatitis B surface antigen quantitation (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday)	3 days	Serum preferred or Li-heparin, Na-heparin, K2-EDTA, citrate plasma
Hepatitis B virus DNA (<16IU/mL) ♦ ▲	Next day	At least 0.6mL serum/plasma
Hepatitis B virus DNA quantitation (<16IU/mL) ♦ ▲	Next day	At least 0.6mL serum/plasma
Hepatitis B genotyping ♦	3 days	At least 0.6mL serum/plasma
Hepatitis C antibody (EIA) (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday)	3 days	Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, K2/K3-EDTA, Na-heparin, Na-citrate, CPDA, CPD, CP2D, and ACD plasma.
Hepatitis C antibody (RIBA) (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday)	3 days	Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, citrate or EDTA plasma
Hepatitis C NS5A resistance testing ♦	4 days	At least 0.6ml serum/plasma Please supply viral load if available.
Hepatitis C genotyping ♦	3 days	At least 0.6mL serum/plasma Please supply viral load if available.
Hepatitis C virus RNA (<15IU/ml) ♦	Next day	At least 0.7ml serum/plasma, 1ml is preferable. Please send more sample if other tests are required.
Hepatitis C virus RNA quantitation (<15IU/ml) ♦	Next day	At least 0.7ml serum/plasma, 1ml is preferable. Please send more sample if other tests are required.
Hepatitis D virus RNA ♦	3 days	At least 0.6mL serum/plasma This assay should always be reviewed in conjunction with HBV investigations.
Hepatitis D virus RNA quantitation ♦	3 days	At least 0.6mL serum/plasma. This assay should always be reviewed in conjunction with HBV investigations.
Hepatitis E virus RNA	2 days	At least 0.6mL serum/plasma, CSF, whole blood, stool
Hepatitis E virus RNA quantitation	2 days	At least 0.6mL serum/plasma, CSF, whole blood
Herpes Simplex virus DNA	Next day	CSF, AC tap, EDTA/citrated whole blood, vesicle fluid, skin/eye/corneal vesicle/lesion swab, tissue (Biopsy and fixed included). Any respiratory specimen (sputum, BAL, NPA, nasopharyngeal swab etc) . aqueous / vitreous humour. Genitourinary - For female: Endocervical or vulval lesions sample area with a swab and place into viral transport media (VTM). Male: Penile lesions - Penile swab placed into VTM. Urine is not a recommended sample type for diagnosis of infection in male or females. Pregnancy – vulval/vaginal swab
Herpes Simplex Acyclovir drug resistance	5 days	HSV-1 positive samples, including CSF, Corneal scrapes, vesicle fluid, swabs, and whole blood
Herpes Simplex virus types I & II typing	Next day	Performed routinely on positive HSV samples (including CSF, amniotic fluid, EDTA/citrated-whole blood, vesicle fluid, skin/lesion swab, tissue samples and biopsies, any respiratory specimen (sputum, BAL, NPA, nasopharyngeal swab etc). HSV positive eye samples and oral swabs are typed upon request. Specific requirements for genitourinary samples: Males: Penile lesions-penile swabs placed into VTM. Females: Endocervical or vulval lesion swabs placed into VTM. In pregnancy, vulval/vaginal swabs placed into VTM. Urine is not a recommended sample type for the diagnosis of infection in male or female patients.
HIV I & II antibody and p24 antigen (EIA) (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday)	3 days	Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, EDTA, ACD, CPD, CP2D, CPDA and Na‑citrate plasma
HIV I & II antibody (LIA) (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday)	3 days	Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, citrate or EDTA plasma
HIV I & II antibody (LIA) – saliva (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday)	3 days	Saliva
HIV-1 proviral LTR, env, gag and pol genes	2 days	EDTA whole blood preferred or serum/plasma, CSF A paired maternal blood sample should be sent when testing infants <18 months old for HIV-1 proviral DNA / RNA.
HIV-1 RNA drug resistance ♦	9 days	Serum/plasma. This test requires at least 600μL of sample. Please supply viral load if available.
HIV-1 RNA Integrase drug resistance ♦	9 days	Serum/plasma. This test requires at least 600μL of sample. Please supply viral load if available.
HIV-1 RNA quantitation ♦	3 days	EDTA Plasma, CSF. Please supply 2mL EDTA plasma.
HIV-2 proviral LTR and pol DNA/RNA	2 days	EDTA whole blood preferred or serum/plasma, CSF
HTLV I & II antibody	Tests scheduled Wednesdays	Serum preferred or EDTA, citrate plasma
HTLV DNA or RNA	3 days	EDTA/citrated whole blood or CSF
Human Herpesvirus 6A and 6B DNA	Next day	EDTA/citrated whole blood (CSF in encephalitis), bone marrow biopsies, , plasma, serum
Human Herpesvirus 6 DNA quantitation	Next day	EDTA/citrated whole blood (CSF in encephalitis), bone marrow, plasma, serum
Human Herpesvirus 7 DNA	Next day	EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF. Plasma or serum may be tested but whole blood is preferred.
Human Herpesvirus 7 DNA quantitation	Next day	EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF. Plasma or serum may be tested but whole blood is preferred.
Human Herpesvirus 8 DNA	Next day	EDTA/citrated whole blood. Plasma or serum may be tested but whole blood is preferred.
Human Herpesvirus 8 DNA quantitation	Next day	EDTA/citrated whole blood. Plasma or serum may be tested but whole blood is preferred.
Human Papillomavirus DNA detection	5 days	Swab, tissue (including fixed). Please state site of swab / tissue type. For genital samples: Female: Endocervical swab sent in VTM or ‘thin prep’ endocervical cellular specimens. Male: Penile swab placed into VTM or fresh biopsy tissue.
Human Papillomavirus DNA typing	5 days	Any positive detected from samples detailed for HPV detection.
Human Papillomavirus DNA high risk typing (Genital samples only)	5 days	Female: Endocervical swab sent in VTM or ‘thin prep’ endocervical cellular specimens. Male: Penile swab placed into VTM.
IL28B gene (rs12979860)	4 days	EDTA / citrated whole blood
Influenza A virus RNA	Same day	Any upper / lower respiratory specimen
Influenza B virus RNA	Same day	Any upper / lower respiratory specimen
Legionella pneumophila ▲	Same day	Any upper / lower respiratory specimen
Leptospira genus DNA	3 days	CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood, urine
Lymphogranuloma venereum All LGV requests are also tested for Ct and Ng.	4 days	Male - first catch urine, genital swab, rectal swab, throat swab, rectal biopsy/tissue, lymph node tissue/biopsy. Female - genital swab, throat swab, rectal swab, rectal biopsy/tissue, lymph node tissue/biopsy
Listeria monocytogenes DNA	Next day	CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood - may be useful in suspected meningitis cases
Measles virus RNA	Next day	CSF, urine, saliva, mouth/throat swab, whole blood, amniotic fluid
Mumps IgG antibody	Tests schedule Wednesdays	Serum preferred or citrate plasma
Mumps virus RNA	Next day	CSF, urine, saliva, mouth/throat swab
Mycobacterium avium complex\TB complex DNA	4 days	Sputum, tissue, fixed tissue, CSF, BAL, culture
Mycobacterium genus DNA	4 days	Sputum, tissue, fixed tissue, CSF, BAL, culture
Mycobacterium TB rifampicin resistance	3 days	Sputum, tissue, fixed tissue, CSF, BAL, culture
Mycoplasma genitalium DNA	2 days	Urine/genital swab
Mycoplasma genitalium macrolide resistance All Mycoplasma genitalium macrolide requests are also tested in-house for confirmation of Mycoplasma genitalium positivity	4 days	Urine/genital swab
Mycoplasma genus DNA	4 days	CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood, tissue culture
Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA See ʘ below (▲NxTAG® results only)	Next day	EDTA whole blood, BAL and NPA
Neisseria gonorrhoeae DNA Individual requests for Ng are always tested in combination with Ct respectively. If sending for confirmation in accordance with BASHH guidelines, please telephone the laboratory for further information.	2 days	Eye swab For genitourinary: Female: Endocervical, vaginal or rectal swab, ‘Thin prep’ endocervical cellular specimens. Male: Urethral swab, first pass urine, rectal swab
Neisseria meningitidis DNA ▲	Same day	CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood (may be useful in suspected meningitis cases), swabs, joint fluid
Neisseria meningitidis DNA typing	2 days	Performed routinely on positive Neisseria meningitidis samples
Parainfluenza 1,2,3 and 4 virus RNA	Same day	Any upper / lower respiratory specimen
Parechovirus RNA	Next day	CSF, swab, stool, tissue, serum, plasma, EDTA/citrated whole blood - may be useful in suspected meningitis cases
Parvovirus B19 DNA	Next day	EDTA/citrated whole blood, amniotic fluid, serum/plasma, post-mortem samples (Foetal), CSF, bone marrow
Parvovirus B19 DNA quantitation	Next day	EDTA/citrated whole blood, amniotic fluid, serum/plasma, CSF
Pneumocystis jirovecii (aka carinii) DNA ▲	Next day	Sputum, BAL, NPA preferred.
Polyoma BK virus DNA	Next day	EDTA/citrated whole blood, urine
Polyoma BK virus DNA quantitation	Next day	EDTA/citrated whole blood, urine
Polyoma JC virus DNA	Next day	EDTA/citrated whole blood, urine, CSF
Polyoma JC virus DNA quantitation	Next day	EDTA/citrated whole blood, urine, CSF
Propionibacteria/Actinomyces DNA	2 days	Eye sample, tissue, CSF
Pseudomonas aeruginosa	Next day	EDTA whole blood, corneal scrape, eye swab, contact lens or contact lens solution
Respiratory Syncytial Virus RNA	Same day	Any upper / lower respiratory specimen
Respiratory Virus Screen See ʘ below	Next day	Any upper / lower respiratory specimen
Extended respiratory screen. Respiratory screen detailed above with additional Coronavirus OC43, 229E, NL63 and HKU1 testing		Any upper / lower respiratory specimen
Rhinovirus RNA	Same day	Any upper / lower respiratory specimen
Rhinovirus typing (Research only)	3 days	Any positive Rhinovirus respiratory specimen
Rubella virus RNA	Next day	CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood, throat swab, urine, amniotic fluid
Salmonella enterica (Research only)	Next day	CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood – may be useful in suspected meningitis cases, tissue, abscess fluid.
Staphylococcus genus DNA	Next day	CSF, aqueous/vitreous humour, tissue
Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA	Same day	Whole blood, CSF and pleural fluid
Toxoplasma gondii DNA	Same day	CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood, amniotic fluid, aqueous/vitreous humours, tissue
Toxoplasma IgG antibody (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday)	5 days	Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, K3-EDTA or citrate plasma
Treponema pallidum DNA	2 days	CSF, genital swab
Trichomonas vaginalis DNA	2 days	Genital swab
Tropheryma whipplei DNA	Next day	CSF and almost any cellular material including whole blood. PLEASE DO NOT SEND SERUM.
Ureaplasma urealyticum/parvum DNA	2 days	Urine, genital swab, respiratory (neonates)
Varicella Zoster virus DNA	Next day	CSF, AC tap, EDTA/citrated whole blood, corneal scrape, vesicle fluid, skin/eye/vesicle/lesion swab, tissue (Biopsy and fixed included). Any respiratory specimen (sputum, BAL, NPA, nasopharyngeal swab etc), aqueous / vitreous humour. Genitourinary - For female: Endocervical or vulval lesions sample area with a swab and place into viral transport media (VTM). Male: Penile lesions - Penile swab placed into VTM Pregnancy – vulval/vaginal swab
West Nile Fever virus RNA	Next day	CSF, EDTA whole blood

Key for test table

▲ Currently awaiting UKAS accreditation. Some tests results reported for Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae are generated using the NxTAG® Respiratory Pathogen Panel. This is a validated test and is awaiting further UKAS accreditation for these two tests.

♦ EDTA Plasma separated within 24 hours of initial collection of blood. Ship at ambient temperature for next day delivery.

* - Li Heparin/Na heparin has inhibitory effects in PCR. Please provide an alternative sample if molecular detection of viral / bacterial / fungal targets or human genetics tests are required.

** - For the Hepatitis B surface antibody assay, if plasma treated with lithium heparin, sodium citrate, sodium fluoride or potassium oxalate is used, values obtained are 25% lower compared with serum. Additionally, lithium heparin plasma tubes containing separating gel should not be used for this test.

*** - Serum and plasma may be tested but whole blood is preferred.

ʘ- Respiratory panel comprising of Influenzae A and B, Respiratory syncytial virus A and B, Parainfluenza 1 – 4, Human metapneumovirus, Rhinovirus/Enterovirus, Adenovirus, Human Bocavirus. The extended respiratory screen is comprised of the aforementioned organisms with Coronavirus OC43, 229E, NL63 and HKU1 additional testing. Please note, Influenza A positives^▲ can be differentiated between H1 and H3 subtypes. If required this can be reported. Differentiation of Rhinovirus/Enterovirus will incur an extra day TAT to facilitate additional testing. Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae positives may be reported following testing on the NxTAG® Respiratory Pathogen Panel.

Ψ Please note; when Measles RNA, Rubella RNA, Neisseria meningitidis DNA or Bordetella pertussis DNA are detected within a specimen,the sample will be forwarded to Public Health England to comply with their requirements.

Abbreviations used in test table

ACD – Acid citrate dextrose

BAL – Bronchioalveolar lavage

CPD – Citrate phosphate dextrose

CPDA – Citrate phosphate dextrose adenine

CP2D - Citrate phosphate double dextrose

CSF – Cerebrospinal fluid

EDTA - Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid