Test A-Z
Tests available |
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Test |
Target turnaround |
Validated Sample types |
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Client sample postage: returns and forwarding to PHE |
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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18S rRNA fungal gene detection |
3 days |
Any (inc. fixed tissue) preferably from normally sterile sites |
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18S rRNA fungal gene sequencing |
3 days |
PCR product (see detection above) or fungal culture |
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Acanthamoeba DNA |
2 days |
For eyes - Corneal scrape, swab or contact lens, contact lens solution Meningitis - CSF |
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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. |
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Adenovirus DNA quantitation |
Next day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood CSF and plasma |
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Adenovirus typing |
5 days |
PCR product generated in-house from the sample types detailed for Adenovirus DNA |
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Alpha-1 antitrypsin genotyping |
5 days |
EDTA/citrated whole blood |
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Aspergillus genus DNA |
5 days |
EDTA/citrated whole blood/ lower respiratory sample ((BAL, bronchial washings, sputum) |
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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 genus DNA (Detecting B. pertussis, B. parapertusiss and B. bronchiseptica) |
2 days |
NPA, perinasal and nasopharyngeal swab |
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Bordetella pertussis DNA |
2 days |
NPA, perinasal and nasopharyngeal swab |
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Borrelia genus |
2 days |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, skin biopsy |
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Brucella genus DNA |
3 days |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, tissue. We do not accept cultures for safety reasons |
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Candida albicans DNA |
2 days |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, eye fluid |
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Cervical cytology (externally referred) |
10 days |
‘Thin prep’ endocervical cellular specimens. |
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Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA |
Next day |
Any respiratory specimen (sputum, BAL, NPA, nasopharyngeal swab etc), BAL and NPA preferred |
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Chlamydia psittaci DNA |
2 days |
BAL, 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. |
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 |
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Clostridium difficile |
3 days |
Stool |
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Coronavirus 229E, HKU1, NL63 or OC43 |
Next day |
Any upper / lower respiratory sample |
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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, eye fluid, tissue, biopsy or respiratory specimen - BAL preferred. Pregnancy – EDTA whole blood, amniotic fluid, cervical swab, serum/plasma |
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Cytomegalovirus DNA quantitation |
Same day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, urine, serum/EDTA plasma, eye fluid |
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Cytomegalovirus ganciclovir resistance |
5 days |
As for CMV DNA |
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Enterovirus RNA |
Next day |
CSF, swab, stool, tissue, serum, plasma, EDTA/citrated whole blood - may be useful in suspected meningitis cases |
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Enterovirus typing |
3 days |
CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood, stool, respiratory samples, tissue, serum, plasma |
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Epstein Barr Virus DNA |
Same day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, urine, serum, plasma, biopsy, |
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Epstein Barr Virus DNA quantitation |
Same day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, urine, 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 |
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Forensic DNA Profiling – tissue extraction |
10 days |
Muscle |
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Forensic DNA Profiling - extraction from bone or teeth |
15 days |
Bone/teeth |
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Forensic DNA Profiling For identification of human remains and comparison of clinical samples |
10 days |
Cheek swab, EDTA/citrated whole blood, tissue, serum, fixed tissue (least preferred sample), personal items (Hairbrush, comb, razor) |
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Group A Streptococcus (S.pyogenes) DNA |
Next day |
CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood, tissue |
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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 |
Swab |
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Haemophilus influenzae/parainfluenzae DNA |
Next day |
CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood. |
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HBV Core/PreCore Mutations |
5 days |
Serum/plasma |
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Hepatitis B core antibody |
3 days |
Li‑heparin, Na‑heparin, K2‑EDTA, K3‑EDTA, ACD, CPD, CP2D, CPDA and Na‑citrate plasma |
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Hepatitis B e antibody |
3 days |
Serum preferred or Na-heparin*, K-3 EDTA, sodium citrate plasma |
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Hepatitis B e antigen |
3 days |
Serum preferred or Na-heparin*, Li‑heparin*, K2‑EDTA, K3‑EDTA, ACD, CPD, CP2D, CPDA and Na‑citrate plasma. |
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Hepatitis B drug resistance mutation screen |
5 days |
Serum/plasma |
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Hepatitis B surface antibody |
3 days |
Serum preferred or K2/K3EDTA plasma ** |
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Hepatitis B surface antigen |
3 days |
Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, Na-citrate, K2/K3- EDTA, CPDA, CPD, CP2D, ACD, citrate plasma. |
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Hepatitis B surface antigen quantitation |
3 days |
Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, Na-heparin*, K2-EDTA, citrate plasma |
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Hepatitis B virus DNA (<10IU/mL) |
Next day |
At least 0.3ml serum/plasma |
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Hepatitis B virus DNA quantitation (<10IU/mL) |
Next day |
At least 0.3ml serum/plasma |
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Hepatitis B genotyping |
3 days |
Serum/plasma |
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Hepatitis C antibody (EIA) |
3 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) |
3 days |
Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, citrate or EDTA plasma |
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Hepatitis C NS3 Q80K polymorphism |
3 days |
At least 0.3ml serum/plasma |
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Hepatitis C NS5A resistance testing |
4 days |
At least 0.3ml serum/plasma |
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Hepatitis C genotyping |
3 days |
Serum/plasma |
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Hepatitis C virus RNA (<18IU/ml) |
Next day |
At least 0.3ml serum/plasma |
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Hepatitis C virus RNA quantitation (<18IU/ml) |
Next day |
At least 0.3ml serum/plasma |
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Hepatitis D virus RNA |
3 days |
Serum/plasma. This assay should always be reviewed in conjunction with HBV investigations. |
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Hepatitis D virus RNA quantitation |
3 days |
Serum/plasma. This assay should always be reviewed in conjunction with HBV investigations |
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Hepatitis E virus RNA |
2 days |
Serum/plasma, CSF, whole blood, stool |
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Hepatitis E virus RNA quantitation |
2 days |
Serum/plasma, CSF, whole blood |
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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. 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 |
5 days |
HSV-1 positive samples, including CSF, Corneal scrapes, vesicle fluid, swabs, and whole blood |
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Herpes Simplex virus types I & II typing |
Next day |
Performed routinely on positive HSV samples (EDTA whole blood, CSF, tissues, urines and swabs except for oral and eye samples |
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HIV I & II antibody and p24 antigen (EIA) |
3 days |
Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, EDTA, ACD, CPD, CP2D, CPDA and Na‑citrate plasma |
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HIV I & II antibody (LIA) |
3 days |
Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, citrate or EDTA plasma |
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HIV I & II antibody (LIA) - saliva |
3 days |
Saliva |
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HIV-1 LTR, env, gag and pol genes |
2 days |
EDTA whole blood preferred or serum/plasma, CSF▲ |
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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. |
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HIV-1 RNA Integrase 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. |
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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. |
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HIV-2 LTR and pol DNA/RNA |
2 days |
EDTA whole blood preferred or serum/plasma, CSF▲ |
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HTLV I & II antibody |
2 days |
Serum preferred or EDTA, citrate plasma |
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HTLV DNA or RNA |
3 days |
EDTA/citrated whole blood or CSF |
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Human Herpesvirus 6 DNA |
Next day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood (CSF in encephalitis), bone marrow biopsies, BAL, plasma***, serum*** |
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Human Herpesvirus 6 DNA quantitation |
Next day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood (CSF in encephalitis), bone marrow, plasma***, serum*** |
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Human Herpesvirus 7 DNA |
Next day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, plasma***, serum*** |
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Human Herpesvirus 8 DNA |
Next day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, plasma***, serum*** |
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Human Herpesvirus 8 DNA quantitation |
Next day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, plasma***, serum*** |
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Human metapneumovirus RNA |
Same day |
Any upper / lower respiratory specimen |
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Human Papillomavirus DNA detection |
5 days
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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. |
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Human Papillomavirus DNA typing |
5 days |
Any positive detected from samples detailed for HPV detection. |
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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. |
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IL28B gene (rs12979860) |
4 days |
EDTA / citrated whole blood |
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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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Leptospira genus DNA |
3 days |
CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood, urine |
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Lymphogranuloma venereum |
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/citrated whole blood - may be useful in suspected meningitis cases |
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Measles virus RNA |
Next day |
CSF, urine, saliva, mouth/throat swab, whole blood |
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Mumps IgG antibody |
4 days |
Serum preferred or citrate plasma |
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Mumps virus RNA |
Next day |
CSF, urine, saliva, mouth/throat swab |
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Mycobacterium avium complex\TB complex DNA |
2 days |
Sputum, tissue, fixed tissue, CSF, BAL |
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Mycobacterium genus DNA |
4 days |
Sputum, tissue, fixed tissue, CSF, BAL |
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Mycobacterium TB rifampicin resistance |
3 days |
Sputum, tissue, fixed tissue, CSF, BAL |
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Mycoplasma genitalium DNA |
2 days |
Urine/genital swab |
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Mycoplasma genus DNA |
4 days |
CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood, tissue culture |
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Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA |
Next day |
EDTA whole blood and any respiratory specimen (sputum, BAL, NPA, nasopharyngeal swab etc), BAL and NPA preferred |
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Neisseria gonorrhoeae DNA 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 |
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Neisseria meningitidis DNA |
Same day |
CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood (may be useful in suspected meningitis cases) |
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Neisseria meningitidis DNA typing |
2 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, EDTA/citrated whole blood - may be useful in suspected meningitis cases |
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Parvovirus B19 DNA |
Next day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, amniotic fluid, serum/plasma, post-mortem samples (Foetal), CSF, bone marrow |
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Parvovirus B19 DNA quantitation |
Next day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, amniotic fluid, serum/plasma, CSF |
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Paternity Testing |
7 days |
Cheek swab |
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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, urine, CSF |
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Polyoma BK virus DNA quantitation |
Next day |
EDTA/citrated whole blood, urine, CSF |
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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 or contact lens solution |
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Respiratory Syncytial Virus RNA |
Same day |
Any upper / lower respiratory specimen |
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Respiratory Virus Screen See ʘ below |
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 |
3 days |
Any positive Rhinovirus respiratory specimen |
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Rubella virus RNA |
Next day |
CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood, throat swab, urine, amniotic fluid |
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Salmonella enterica |
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, 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 |
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Toxoplasma IgG antibody |
5 days |
Serum preferred or Li-heparin*, K3-EDTA or citrate plasma |
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Treponema pallidum DNA |
Next day |
CSF, genital swab |
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Trichomonas vaginalis DNA |
Next day |
Genital swab |
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Tropheryma whippelii DNA |
Next day |
CSF 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, respiratory (neonates) |
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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 |
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West Nile Fever virus RNA |
Next day |
CSF, EDTA whole blood |
Notes
▲ Currently not UKAS accredited
* - 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, Coronavirus OC43, 229E, NL63 and HKU1, Respiratory syncytial virus A and B, Parainfluenza 1 – 4, Human metapneumovirus, Rhinovirus/Enterovirus, Adenovirus, Human Bocavirus. Please note, Influenza A positives▲ can be differentiated between H1 and H3 subtypes. If required this can be reported.
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
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
Li – Lithium
Na - Sodium
NPA – Nasopharyngeal aspirate
VTM – Viral transport media