Test A-Z

16S rRNA bacterial gene detection

3 days

Any (inc. fixed tissue) preferably from normally sterile sites

16S rRNA bacterial gene sequencing

3 days

PCR product (see detection above) or bacterial culture

18S rRNA fungal gene detection

3 days

Any (inc. fixed tissue) preferably from normally sterile sites

18S rRNA fungal gene 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, pericaridal fluid, bone marrow.

Adenovirus DNA quantitation

Next day

EDTA/citrated whole blood CSF and plasma

Adenovirus typing

3 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

3 days

EDTA/citrated whole blood/ lower respiratory sample ((BAL, bronchial washings, sputum)

Bocavirus

Next day

Any upper / lower respiratory specimen (sputum, BAL, NPA, nasopharyngeal swab etc), BAL and NPA preferred

Bordetella genus DNA

Next day

Any respiratory specimen (sputum, BAL, NPA, nasopharyngeal swab etc), BAL and NPA preferred

Bordetella pertussis DNA

Next day

Nasopharygeal swabs and NPA preferred

Borrelia burgdorferi antibody (externally referred)

14 days

Serum

Borrelia genus

Next day

EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, skin biopsy

Brucella antibody (externally referred)

14 days

Serum

Brucella genus DNA

3 days

EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, tissue

Burkholderia cepacia complex

3 days

Sputum, culture

Burkholderia cepacia complex typing

5 days

Sputum, culture

Candida albicans DNA

2 days

EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, eye fluid

Cervical cytology (externally referred)

10 days

‘Thin prep’ endocervical cellular specimens.

Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA

Next day

Any respiratory specimen (sputum, BAL, NPA, nasopharyngeal swab etc), BAL and NPA preferred

Chlamydia psittaci DNA

2 days

Any respiratory specimen (sputum, BAL, NPA, nasopharyngeal swab etc), BAL and NPA preferred

Chlamydia trachomatis DNA

3 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

Clostridrium difficile

3 days

Stool

Coronavirus 229E, HKU1, NL63 or OC43

Next day

Any upper / lower respiratory sample

Coxiella burnetii

Next day

EDTA whole blood. We do not accept cultures.

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 ganciclovir resistance

5 days

As for CMV DNA

Enterovirus RNA

Next day

CSF, swab, stool, tissue, serum, plasma, EDTA/citrated whole blood - may be useful in suspected meningitis cases

Enterovirus typing

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

Forensic DNA Profiling – tissue extraction

10 days

Muscle

Forensic DNA Profiling - extraction from bone or teeth

15 days

Bone/teeth

Forensic DNA Profiling

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

Next day

Swab

Haemophilus influenzae/parainfluenzae DNA

Next day

CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood.

HBV Core/PreCore Mutations

5 days

Serum/plasma

Hepatitis B core antibody

3 days

Serum preferred or Na-heparin*, K-3 EDTA, sodium citrate plasma

Hepatitis B e antibody

3 days

Serum preferred or Na-heparin*, K-3 EDTA, sodium citrate plasma

Hepatitis B e antigen

3 days

Serum preferred or Na-heparin*, K-3 EDTA, sodium citrate plasma

Hepatitis B drug resistance mutation screen

5 days

Serum/plasma

Hepatitis B surface antibody

3 days

Serum preferred or K2/K3EDTA plasma **

Hepatitis B surface antigen

3 days

Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, Na-citrate, K2/K3- EDTA, CPDA, CPD, CP2D, ACD, citrate plasma.

Hepatitis B surface antigen quantitation

3 days

Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, Na-heparin*, K2-EDTA, citrate plasma

Hepatitis B virus DNA (<10IU/mL)

Next day

At least 0.3ml serum/plasma

Hepatitis B virus DNA quantitation (<10IU/mL)

Next day

At least 0.3ml serum/plasma

Hepatitis B genotyping

3 days

Serum/plasma

Hepatitis C antibody (EIA)

3 days

serum preferred or Li-heparin*, K2/K3-EDTA, Na-heparin, Na-citrate, CPDA, CPD, CP2D, and ACD plasma.

Hepatitis C antibody (RIBA)

3 days

Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, citrate or EDTA plasma

Hepatitis C NS3 Q80K polymorphism

3 days

At least 0.3ml serum/plasma

Hepatitis C genotyping

3 days

Serum/plasma

Hepatitis C virus RNA (<18IU/ml)

Next day

At least 0.3ml serum/plasma

Hepatitis C virus RNA quantitation (<18IU/ml)

Next day

At least 0.3ml serum/plasma

Hepatitis D virus RNA

3 days

Serum/plasma. This assay should always be reviewed in conjunction with HBV investigations.

Hepatitis D virus RNA quantitation

3 days

Serum/plasma. This assay should always be reviewed in conjunction with HBV investigations.

Hepatitis E virus RNA

4 days

Serum/plasma, CSF, whole blood, stool

Hepatitis E virus RNA quantitation

4 days

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

Any respiratory specimen (sputum, BAL, NPA, nasopharyngeal swab etc)

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

Herpes Simplex virus types I & II typing

Next day

Performed routinely on positive HSV samples (EDAT whole blood, CSF, tissues, urines and swabs except for oral and eye samples.

HIV I & II antibody and p24 antigen (EIA)

3 days

Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, EDTA, ACD, CPD, CP2D, CPDA and Na‑citrate plasma

HIV I & II antibody (LIA)

3 days

Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, citrate or EDTA plasma

HIV I & II antibody (LIA) - saliva

3 days

Saliva

HIV-1 LTR, env, gag and pol genes

2 days

EDTA whole blood preferred or serum/plasma

HIV-1 RNA drug resistance

9 days

Serum/plasma. This test requires at least 500μL of sample. Use EDTA whole blood, separate the plasma within 24 hours of blood collection. Ship at ambient temperature for next day delivery. Please supply viral load if available.

HIV-1 RNA Integrase drug resistance

5 days

EDTA plasma. This test requires at least 500μL of sample. Use EDTA whole blood, separate the plasma within 24 hours of blood collection. Ship at ambient temperature for next day delivery. Please supply viral load if available.

HIV-1 RNA quantitation

3 days

EDTA Plasma, CSF.  Please supply 2mL EDTA plasma. Use EDTA whole blood, separate the plasma within 24 hours of blood collection.   Ship at ambient temperature for next day delivery.

HIV-2 LTR and pol DNA/RNA

2 days

EDTA whole blood preferred or serum/plasma/semen/cell lines

HTLV I & II antibody

2 days

Serum preferred or EDTA, citrate plasma

HTLV DNA or RNA

3 days

EDTA/citrated whole blood or CSF

Human Herpesvirus 6 DNA

Same day

EDTA/citrated whole blood (CSF in encephalitis), bone marrow biopsies, BAL, 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***, serum***

Human Herpesvirus 8 DNA

Same day

EDTA/citrated whole blood, plasma***, serum***

Human Herpesvirus 8 DNA quantitation

Next day

EDTA/citrated whole blood, plasma***, serum***

Human metapneumovirus RNA

Same day

Any upper / lower respiratory specimen

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

Leptospira genus DNA

2 days

CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood, urine

Listeria monocytogenes DNA

Next day

CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood - may be useful in suspected meningitis cases

Measles virus RNA

Same day

CSF, urine, saliva, mouth/throat swab, whole blood

Mumps IgG antibody

3 days

Serum preferred or citrate plasma

Mumps virus RNA

Same day

CSF, urine, saliva, mouth/throat swab

Mycobacterium avium complex\TB complex DNA

Next day

Sputum, tissue, fixed tissue, CSF, BAL

Mycobacterium genus DNA

4 days

Sputum, tissue, fixed tissue, CSF, BAL

Mycobacterium TB rifampicin resistance

3 days

Sputum, tissue, fixed tissue, CSF, BAL

Mycoplasma genitalium DNA

2 days

Urine/genital swab

Mycoplasma genus DNA

3 days

CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood, tissue culture

Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA

Next day

Any respiratory specimen (sputum, BAL, NPA, nasopharyngeal swab etc), BAL and NPA preferred

Neisseria gonorrhoeae DNA

3 days

Eye swab

For genitourinary: Female: Endocervical, vaginal or rectal swab, first pass urine, ‘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)

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

Same 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

Paternity Testing

7 days

Cheek swab

Pneumocystis carinii (aka jiroveci) DNA

Next day

Sputum, BAL, NPA preferred.

Polyoma BK virus DNA

Next day

EDTA/citrated whole blood, urine, CSF

Polyoma BK virus DNA quantitation

Next day

EDTA/citrated whole blood, urine, CSF

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

Respiratory Syncytial Virus RNA

Same day

Any upper / lower respiratory specimen

Respiratory Virus Screen

Next day

Any upper / lower respiratory specimen

Rhinovirus RNA

Same day

Any upper / lower respiratory specimen

Rhinovirus typing

3 days

Any positive Rhinovirus respiratory specimen

Rubella IgG antibody

3 days

Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, K-3 EDTA, sodium citrate plasma. Plasma treated with sodium fluoride and potassium oxalate should not be used

Rubella virus RNA

Same day

CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood, throat swab, urine, amniotic fluid

Salmonella enterica

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

CSF, whole blood – may be useful in suspected meningitis cases. Any respiratory specimen (sputum, BAL, NPA, nasopharyngeal swab etc). BAL and NPA preferred

Toxoplasma gondii DNA

Same day

CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood, amniotic fluid, aqueous/vitreous humours, tissue

Toxoplasma IgG antibody

5 days

Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, K3-EDTA or citrate plasma

Treponema pallidum (syphilis) antibody (externally referred)

14 days

Serum

Treponema pallidum DNA

Next day

CSF, genital swab

Trichomonas vaginalis DNA

Next day

Genital swab

Tropheryma whippelii 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. Any respiratory specimen (sputum, BAL, NPA, nasopharyngeal swab etc)

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