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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Pan fungal DNA detection |
3 days |
Any (inc. fixed tissue) preferably from normally sterile sites |
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Pan fungal 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 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 (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday) |
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 (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday) |
3 days |
Serum preferred or Na-heparin*, K-3 EDTA, sodium citrate plasma |
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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. |
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Hepatitis B drug resistance mutation screen ♦ |
5 days |
Serum/plasma Please supply viral load if available. |
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Hepatitis B surface antibody (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday) |
3 days |
Serum preferred or K2/K3EDTA plasma ** |
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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. |
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Hepatitis B surface antigen quantitation (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday) |
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) (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. |
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Hepatitis C antibody (RIBA) (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday) |
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 Please supply viral load if available. |
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Hepatitis C NS5A resistance testing ♦ |
4 days |
At least 0.3ml serum/plasma Please supply viral load if available. |
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Hepatitis C genotyping ♦ |
3 days |
Serum/plasma Please supply viral load if available. |
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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 (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 |
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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) (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday) |
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) (Tests schedule Monday and Thursday) |
3 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) |
3 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▲ |
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HIV-1 RNA drug resistance ♦ |
9 days |
Serum/plasma This test requires at least 500μL of sample. 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. Please supply viral load if available. |
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HIV-1 RNA quantitation ♦ |
3 days |
EDTA Plasma, CSF.Please supply 2mL EDTA plasma. |
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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 Wednesday) |
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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Klebsiella pneumoniae |
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Blood, CSF, respiratory and eye samples |
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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 (Tests schedule Wednesday) |
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 |
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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 |
Next day |
CSF, genital swab |
|
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) |
|
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 |
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West Nile Fever virus RNA |
Next day |
CSF, EDTA whole blood |
Key for test table
▲ Currently not UKAS accredited
♦ 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, 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 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
Li – Lithium
Na - Sodium
NPA – Nasopharyngeal aspirate
VTM – Viral transport media