Test A-Z
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Tests available |
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Test |
Target turn-around |
Validated Sample types |
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Client sample postage: returns and forwarding to UKHSA |
Next day |
Anyψ |
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16S rRNA bacterial gene detection |
2 days |
Any (inc. fixed tissue) preferably from normally sterile sites |
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16S rRNA bacterial gene sequencing |
2 days |
PCR product (see detection above) or bacterial culture |
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Pan fungal (18S) DNA detection |
3 days |
Any (inc. fixed tissue) preferably from normally sterile sites |
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Pan fungal (18S) DNA sequencing |
3 days |
PCR product (see detection above) or fungal culture |
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Acanthamoeba DNA |
2 days |
For eyes - Corneal scrape, swab, contact lens solution Meningitis - CSF |
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Adenovirus DNA See ʘ below |
Next day |
Vitreous fluid, eye fluid, serum, swab (Nose, throat, eye and skin), blood, plasma, urine, bronchial washings, NPA, CSF, pericardial fluid, bone marrow. |
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Adenovirus DNA quantitation |
Next day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, urine and plasma |
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Adenovirus typing (Research only) |
5 days |
PCR product generated in-house from the sample types detailed for Adenovirus DNA |
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Aspergillus genus DNA |
5 days |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, BAL, sputum, corneal scrape ▲ |
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Aspergillus antigen (Galactomannan) ▲ |
This test is scheduled on Wednesdays |
Serum, BAL This test requires at least 300μL of sample |
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Bartonella genus ▲ |
2 days |
EDTA whole blood, tissue, vitreous fluid, aqueous fluid and pus. |
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Bocavirus |
Next day |
Any upper / lower respiratory specimen (sputum, BAL, NPA, nasopharyngeal swab etc), BAL and NPA preferred |
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Bordetella pertussis DNA |
2 days |
NPA, upper respiratory swabs |
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Borrelia genus |
2 days |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, tissue |
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Brucella genus DNA |
3 days |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, tissue, serum We do not accept cultures for safety reasons |
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Candida albicans DNA |
2 days |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, vitreous biopsy fluid, corneal scrape ▲, eye swabs. ▲ |
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Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA See ʘ below |
Next day |
NPA, BAL, swab and sputum ▲ |
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Chlamydia psittaci DNA |
2 days |
BAL or nasopharyngeal swab |
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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, semen ▲ |
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Clostridium difficile (Research only) |
3 days |
Stool |
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Coronavirus 229E, HKU1, NL63 or OC43 |
Next day |
Any upper / lower respiratory sample |
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Coronavirus – SARS-CoV-2 Ψ |
Same day |
Any respiratory swab, BAL and NPA Sputum is not validated for this assay. |
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Coronavirus – SARS-CoV-2 variant identification ▲ A UKAS accreditation application has been submitted. |
5 days |
BAL, nose / throat swab, NPA |
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Coxiella burnetii |
Next day |
EDTA whole blood, BAL and tissues. We do not accept cultures for safety reasons. |
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Cryptococcus neoformans DNA |
Next day |
CSF, EDTA whole blood |
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Cytomegalovirus DNA |
Same day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, urine, serum/EDTA plasma, CSF, saliva or respiratory specimen - BAL preferred. Pregnancy – EDTA whole blood, amniotic fluid, serum/plasma |
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Cytomegalovirus DNA quantitation |
Same day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, urine, serum/EDTA plasma, CSFamniotic fluid |
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Cytomegalovirus drug resistance (ganciclovir, foscarnet or cidofovir) (UL97 and UL54 ▲) All samples requesting this assay will be tested for CMV viral load first. |
5 days |
Whole blood, plasma |
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CMV letermovir drug resistance ▲ All samples requesting this assay will be tested for CMV viral load first. |
5 days |
Whole blood, plasma. |
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Enterovirus RNA |
Next day |
CSF, swab, stool, tissue, serum, plasma, NPA, pericardial fluid, EDTA/citrated whole blood - may be useful in suspected meningitis cases |
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Enterovirus typing (Research only) |
3 days |
CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood, stool, respiratory samples, tissue, serum, plasma |
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Epstein Barr Virus DNA |
Next day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, serum, plasma |
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Epstein Barr Virus DNA quantitation |
Next day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, serum, plasma |
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Escherichia coli DNA |
2 days |
CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood |
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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 It may be necessary for us to request further specimens for genetic profile analysis in circumstances where our investigations are inconclusive. |
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) It may be necessary for us to request further specimens for genetic profile analysis in circumstances where our investigations are inconclusive |
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Group A Streptococcus (S.pyogenes) DNA |
Next day |
CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood, tissue, joint fluid ▲ and pleural fluid ▲ |
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Group B Streptococcus (S. agalactiae) DNA |
Next day |
CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood, tissue |
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Haemochromatosis H63D C282Y ▲ |
5 days |
EDTA / citrated whole blood |
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Haemophilus ducreyi DNA |
2 days |
Genital Swab |
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Haemophilus influenzae/parainfluenzae DNA |
Next day |
CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood. |
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Hepatitis B core antibody (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday) |
4 days |
serum preferred ▲ or Li-heparin*, Na-heparin*, K2/K3-EDTA, CPDA, CPD, CP2D, ACD, sodium citrate plasma |
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Hepatitis B e antibody (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday) |
4 days |
serum preferred ▲ or Li-heparin*, Na-heparin*, K2/K3-EDTA, CPDA, CPD, CP2D, ACD, sodium citrate plasma |
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Hepatitis B e antigen (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday) |
4 days |
serum preferred or Li-heparin*, Na-heparin*, K2/K3-EDTA, CPDA, CPD, CP2D, ACD, sodium citrate plasma |
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Hepatitis B drug resistance mutation screen ♦ |
5 days |
At least 0.6mL Serum/plasma Please supply viral load if available. |
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Hepatitis B surface antibody (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday) |
4 days |
Serum preferred or K2/K3EDTA plasma ** |
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Hepatitis B surface antigen (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday) |
4 days |
Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, Na-hepain, Na-citrate, K2/K3- EDTA, CPDA, CPD, CP2D, ACD, citrate plasma. |
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Hepatitis B surface antigen quantitation (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday) |
4 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 |
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Hepatitis B genotyping ♦ |
3 days |
At least 0.6mL serum/plasma. Please supply viral load if available. |
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Hepatitis C antibody (EIA) (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday) |
4 days |
Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, K2/K3-EDTA, Na-heparin, Na-citrate, CPDA, CPD, CP2D, and ACD plasma. |
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Hepatitis C antibody (RIBA) (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday) |
4 days |
Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, citrate or EDTA plasma |
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Hepatitis C genotyping ♦ ▲ |
3 days |
At least 0.6mL serum/plasma Please supply viral load if available. |
Hepatitis C virus RNA (<15IU/ml) ♦ ▲ |
2 days |
At least 2ml serum/plasma is essential. Please send more sample if other tests are required. |
Hepatitis C virus RNA quantitation (<15IU/ml) ♦ ▲ |
2 days |
At least 2ml serum/plasma is essential. Please send more sample if other tests are required. |
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Hepatitis D virus RNA ♦ ▲ |
5 days Scheduled on Thursday |
At least 0.6mL serum/plasma This assay should always be reviewed in conjunction with HBV investigations. |
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Hepatitis D virus RNA quantitation ♦ ▲ |
5 days Scheduled on Thursday |
At least 0.6mL serum/plasma. This assay should always be reviewed in conjunction with HBV investigations. |
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Hepatitis E virus RNA |
2 days |
At least 0.6mL serum/plasma, CSF, whole blood, stool |
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Hepatitis E virus RNA quantitation |
2 days |
At least 0.6mL serum/plasma, CSF, whole blood |
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Herpes Simplex virus DNA |
Next day |
CSF, AC tap, Aqueous/Vitreous humour, Corneal Scrape, EDTA/citrated whole blood, vesicle fluid, skin/eye/vesicle swab, tissue (Biopsy), BAL, NPA. Genitourinary - For female: Vaginal 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 |
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Herpes Simplex Acyclovir drug resistance |
9 days |
HSV-1 positive samples, including CSF, EDTA whole blood, plasma and swabs. |
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Herpes Simplex virus types I & II typing |
Next day |
Performed routinely on positive HSV samples. Please refer to the HSV detection assay for list of validated sample types |
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HIV I & II antibody and p24 antigen (EIA) (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday) |
4 days |
Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, EDTA, ACD, CPD, CP2D, CPDA and Na‑citrate plasma |
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HIV I & II antibody (LIA) (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday) |
4 days |
Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, citrate or EDTA plasma |
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HIV I & II antibody (LIA) – saliva (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday) |
4 days |
Saliva |
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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. |
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HIV-1 RNA drug resistance ♦ |
9 days |
Plasma. This test requires at least 600μL of sample. Please supply viral load if available. |
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HIV-1 RNA Integrase drug resistance ♦ |
9 days |
Plasma. This test requires at least 600μL of sample. Please supply viral load if available. |
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HIV-1 RNA quantitation ♦ ▲ |
3 days |
EDTA Plasma, CSF. Please supply 2mL EDTA plasma/CSF. |
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HIV-2 proviral LTR and pol DNA/RNA |
2 days |
EDTA whole blood preferred or serum/plasma, CSF |
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HTLV I & II antibody |
Tests scheduled Wednesdays |
Serum preferred or EDTA, citrate plasma |
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HTLV DNA or RNA ▲ |
3 days |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, serum, plasma or CSF |
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Human Herpesvirus 6A and 6B DNA |
Next day |
EDTA whole blood (CSF in encephalitis), bone marrow biopsies, plasma. |
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Human Herpesvirus 6 DNA quantitation |
Next day |
EDTA whole blood (CSF in encephalitis), bone marrow, plasma. |
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Human Herpesvirus 7 DNA |
Next day |
EDTA whole blood, CSF, bone marrow. Plasma may be tested but whole blood is preferred. |
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Human Herpesvirus 7 DNA quantitation |
Next day |
EDTA whole blood, CSF bone marrow. Plasma may be tested but whole blood is preferred. |
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Human Herpesvirus 8 DNA ▲ |
Next day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood. CSF, Plasma or serum may be tested but whole blood is preferred. |
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Human Herpesvirus 8 DNA quantitation ▲ |
Next day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood. CSF, Plasma or serum may be tested but whole blood is preferred. |
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Human Papillomavirus DNA detection |
5 days |
Swabs: vulva, vagina, cervix, penis, rectum, eye, throat, skin. Tissues (including fixed tissues) Please state site of swab/tissue type. |
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Human Papillomavirus DNA typing |
10 days |
Any positive detected from samples detailed for HPV detection. |
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Human Papillomavirus DNA high risk typing (Genital samples only) |
10 days |
Genital swabs only. Please state site of swab. |
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Influenza A virus RNA |
Same day |
Any upper / lower respiratory specimen |
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Influenza B virus RNA |
Same day |
Any upper / lower respiratory specimen |
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Legionella pneumophila See ʘ below ▲ |
Next day |
Any upper / lower respiratory specimen |
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Leptospira genus DNA |
3 days |
CSF, EDTA whole blood, urine |
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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 |
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Listeria monocytogenes DNA |
Next day |
CSF, EDTA whole blood - may be useful in suspected meningitis cases |
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Measles virus RNA Ψ ▲ |
Next day |
CSF, urine, mouth/throat/saliva swab, whole blood, |
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Monkeypox virus DNA ▲ |
Next day |
CSF, blood, plasma, serum, skin swabs, throat swabs |
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Mumps IgG antibody |
Tests schedule Wednesdays |
Serum preferred or citrate/heparin plasma |
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Mumps virus RNA ▲ |
Next day |
CSF, urine, mouth/throat swab, serum/plasma ▲ |
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Mycobacterium avium complex\TB complex DNA |
4 days |
Sputum, CSF, BAL, tissue, NPA ▲ |
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Mycobacterium genus DNA |
4 days |
Sputum, CSF, BAL, tissue ▲ |
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Mycobacterium TB rifampicin resistance All rifampicin requests are tested on the Mycobacterium avium complex\TB complex DNA assay first |
5 days |
Sputum, tissue, CSF, BAL |
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Mycoplasma genitalium DNA |
2 days |
Males - first catch urine. Females - vaginal swab |
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Mycoplasma genitalium macrolide resistance ▲ All Mycoplasma genitalium macrolide requests are also tested in-house for confirmation of Mycoplasma genitalium positivity |
4 days |
Males - first catch urine. Females - vaginal swab |
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Mycoplasma genitalium (ParC) fluoroquinolone resistance ▲ All Mycoplasma genitalium fluoroquinolone requests are also tested in-house for confirmation of Mycoplasma genitalium positivity |
4 days |
Males - first catch urine. Females - vaginal swab |
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Mycoplasma genus DNA |
4 days |
CSF, EDTA whole blood, tissue |
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Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA See ʘ below |
Next day |
EDTA whole blood, BAL and NPA Sputum, swabs and ET secretions can also be tested but these are not UKAS accredited ▲ |
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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, throat swab For genitourinary: Female: Endocervical, vaginal or rectal swab, ‘Thin prep’ endocervical cellular specimens. Male: Urethral swab, first pass urine, rectal swab, semen ▲ Positive samples maybe subject to sequence analysis for confirmation. This is not UKAS accredited. |
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Neisseria meningitidis DNA ▲ Ψ |
Same day |
CSF, EDTA whole blood (may be useful in suspected meningitis cases), swabs, joint fluid |
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Neisseria meningitidis DNA typing |
4 days |
Performed routinely on positive Neisseria meningitidis samples |
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Parainfluenza 1,2,3 and 4 virus RNA |
Same day |
Any upper / lower respiratory specimen |
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Parechovirus RNA |
Next day |
CSF, swab, stool, tissue, serum, plasma, NPA, pericardial fluid, EDTA/citrated whole blood - may be useful in suspected meningitis cases |
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Parvovirus B19 DNA and quantitation ▲ |
Next day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, amniotic fluid, serum/plasma, CSF, bone marrow |
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Pneumocystis jirovecii (aka carinii) DNA |
Next day |
Sputum, BAL, NPA preferred. |
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Polyoma BK virus DNA ▲ |
Next day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, serum/ plasma, urine |
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Polyoma BK virus DNA quantitation ▲ |
Next day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, serum / plasma, urine |
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Polyoma JC virus DNA |
Next day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, urine, CSF |
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Polyoma JC virus DNA quantitation |
Next day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, urine, CSF |
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Propionibacteria/Actinomyces DNA |
2 days |
Eye sample, tissue, CSF |
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa ▲ |
Next day |
EDTA whole blood, corneal scrape, eye swab, contact lens solution, vitreous biopsy fluid |
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Respiratory Syncytial Virus RNA |
Same day |
Any upper / lower respiratory specimen |
Respiratory Virus Screen See ʘ below |
Next day |
Any upper / lower respiratory specimen |
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Extended respiratory screen. See ʘ below Respiratory screen detailed above with additional Coronavirus OC43, 229E, NL63, HKU1 and SARS-CoV-2 testing Ψ |
Next day |
Any upper / lower respiratory specimen |
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Rhinovirus RNA |
Same day |
Any upper / lower respiratory specimen |
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Rhinovirus typing (Research only) |
3 days |
Any positive Rhinovirus respiratory specimen |
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Rubella virus RNA Ψ ▲ |
3 days |
CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood, throat swab, urine, amniotic fluid |
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Salmonella enterica (Research only) |
Next day |
CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood – may be useful in suspected meningitis cases, tissue, abscess fluid. |
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Staphylococcus genus DNA |
Next day |
CSF, Eye wash, Tissues , joint fluid ▲ and pleural fluid ▲ |
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Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA |
Same day |
Whole blood, CSF and pleural fluid |
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Toxoplasma gondii DNA |
Next day |
CSF, EDTAwhole blood, amniotic fluid, vitreous and aqueous fluid ▲ |
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Treponema pallidum DNA |
2 days |
CSF, genital swab |
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Trichomonas vaginalis DNA |
2 days |
Genital swab |
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Tropheryma whipplei DNA |
5 days |
CSF, tissue and almost any cellular material including whole blood. PLEASE DO NOT SEND SERUM. |
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Ureaplasma urealyticum/parvum DNA |
2 days |
Urine, genital swab, thin preps ▲, semen ▲ Neonates- NPA, ET secretions |
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Varicella Zoster virus DNA |
Next day |
CSF, AC tap, aqueous / vitreous humour, EDTA/citrated whole blood, corneal scrape, vesicle fluid, skin/eye swab, tissue (Biopsy), BAL, NPA, Genitourinary - For female: Vaginal 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 |
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West Nile Fever virus RNA▲ |
Next day |
CSF, urine, plasma EDTA whole blood |
Key for test table
▲ Not UKAS accredited. Some tests results reported for Adenovirus, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae are generated using the NxTAG® Respiratory Pathogen Panel. These are not UKAS accredited. An application is to be submitted for UKAS accreditation for these two tests.
Samples highlighted ▲ are not UKAS accredited. The tests in which these samples were assayed will be caveated to state that this test is Not UKAS accredited when testing this sample on results reports.
♦ Non-separated whole blood samples must be centrifuged and plasma collected within 24 hours of collection to provide relevant results. Ship at ambient temperature for next day delivery. For HIV-1 RNA quantitation samples may be tested within 72 hours if the EDTA plasma is refrigerated upon separation or up to 6 weeks if frozen.
* - 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, HKU1 and new Coronavirus-SARS-CoV-2 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 also 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 UKHSA, as requested, 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