Test A-Z

Tests available

Test

Target turn-around

Validated Sample types

Client sample postage: returns and forwarding to UKHSA

Next day

Anyψ

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, contact lens solution

Meningitis - CSF

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.

Adenovirus DNA quantitation

Next day

EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, urine and plasma

Adenovirus typing (Research only)

5 days

PCR product generated in-house from the sample types detailed for Adenovirus DNA

Aspergillus genus DNA

5 days

EDTA/citrated whole blood, BAL, sputum, corneal scrape ▲

Aspergillus antigen (Galactomannan) ▲

This test is scheduled on Wednesdays

Serum, BAL

This test requires at least 300μL of sample

Bartonella genus ▲

2 days

EDTA whole blood, tissue, vitreous fluid, aqueous fluid and pus.

Bocavirus

Next day

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

Bordetella pertussis DNA

2 days

NPA, upper respiratory swabs

Borrelia genus

2 days

EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, tissue

Brucella genus DNA

3 days

EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, tissue, serum We do not accept cultures for safety reasons

Candida albicans DNA

2 days

EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, vitreous biopsy fluid, corneal scrape ▲, eye swabs. ▲

Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA

See ʘ below

Next day

NPA, BAL, swab and sputum ▲

Chlamydia psittaci DNA

2 days

BAL or 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, semen ▲

Clostridium difficile (Research only)

3 days

Stool

Coronavirus 229E, HKU1, NL63 or OC43

Next day

Any upper / lower respiratory sample

Coronavirus – SARS-CoV-2 Ψ

Same day

Any respiratory swab, BAL and NPA

Sputum is not validated for this assay.

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

Cutibacterium (Formerly Propionibacteria) /Actinomyces DNA

2 days

Eye sample, tissue, CSF

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

Cytomegalovirus DNA quantitation

Same day

EDTA/citrated whole blood, urine, serum/EDTA plasma, CSFamniotic fluid

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

CMV letermovir drug resistance ▲

All samples requesting this assay will be tested for CMV viral load first.

5 days

Whole blood, plasma.

Enterovirus RNA

Next day

CSF, swab, stool, tissue, serum, plasma, NPA, pericardial fluid, 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

Next day

EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, serum, plasma

Epstein Barr Virus DNA quantitation

Next day

EDTA/citrated whole blood, CSF, 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

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

Group A Streptococcus (S.pyogenes) DNA

Next day

CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood, tissue, joint fluid ▲ and pleural fluid ▲

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

Genital Swab

Haemophilus influenzae/parainfluenzae DNA

Next day

CSF, EDTA/citrated whole blood.

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

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

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

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)

4 days

Serum preferred or K2/K3EDTA plasma **

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.

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

Hepatitis B genotyping ♦

3 days

At least 0.6mL serum/plasma. Please supply viral load if available.

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.

Hepatitis C antibody (RIBA)

(Tests schedule Monday and Thursday)

4 days

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

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.

Hepatitis D virus RNA ♦ ▲

5 days

At least 0.6mL serum/plasma This assay should always be reviewed in conjunction with HBV investigations.

Hepatitis D virus RNA quantitation ♦ ▲

5 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, 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

Herpes Simplex Acyclovir drug resistance

9 days

HSV-1 positive samples, including CSF, EDTA whole blood, plasma and swabs.

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

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

HIV I & II antibody (LIA)

(Tests schedule Monday and Thursday)

4 days

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

HIV I & II antibody (LIA) – saliva

(Tests schedule Monday and Thursday)

4 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

Plasma. This test requires at least 600μL of sample. Please supply viral load if available.

HIV-1 RNA Integrase drug resistance ♦

9 days

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/CSF.

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, serum, plasma or CSF

Human Herpesvirus 6A and 6B DNA

Next day

EDTA whole blood (CSF in encephalitis), bone marrow biopsies, plasma.

Human Herpesvirus 6 DNA quantitation

Next day

EDTA whole blood (CSF in encephalitis), bone marrow, plasma.

Human Herpesvirus 7 DNA

Next day

EDTA whole blood, CSF, bone marrow. Plasma may be tested but whole blood is preferred.

Human Herpesvirus 7 DNA quantitation

Next day

EDTA whole blood, CSF bone marrow. Plasma may be tested but whole blood is preferred.

Human Herpesvirus 8 DNA ▲

Next day

EDTA/citrated whole blood. CSF, Plasma or serum may be tested but whole blood is preferred.

Human Herpesvirus 8 DNA quantitation ▲

Next day

EDTA/citrated whole blood. CSF, Plasma or serum may be tested but whole blood is preferred.

Human Papillomavirus DNA detection

5 days

Swabs: vulva, vagina, cervix, penis, rectum, eye, throat, skin.

Tissues )

Please state site of swab/tissue type.

Human Papillomavirus DNA typing

10 days

Any positive detected from samples detailed for HPV detection.

Human Papillomavirus DNA high risk typing (Genital samples only)

10 days

Genital swabs only. Please state site of swab.

Influenza A virus RNA

Same day

Any upper / lower respiratory specimen

Influenza B virus RNA

Same day

Any upper / lower respiratory specimen

Legionella pneumophila See ʘ below

Next day

Any upper / lower respiratory specimen

Leptospira genus DNA

3 days

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

Measles virus RNA Ψ ▲

Next day

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

Monkeypox virus DNA ▲

Next day

CSF, blood, plasma, serum, skin swabs, throat swabs

Mumps IgG antibody

Tests schedule Wednesdays

Serum preferred or citrate/heparin plasma

Mumps virus RNA ▲

Next day

CSF, urine, mouth/throat swab, serum/plasma ▲

Mycobacterium avium complex\TB complex DNA

4 days

Sputum, CSF, BAL, tissue, NPA ▲

Mycobacterium genus DNA

4 days

CSF, BAL, sputum and tissues

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

Mycoplasma genitalium DNA

2 days

Males - first catch urine. Females - vaginal swab

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

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

Mycoplasma genus DNA

4 days

CSF, EDTA whole blood, tissue

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 ▲

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.

Neisseria meningitidis DNA ▲ Ψ

Same day

CSF, EDTA whole blood (may be useful in suspected meningitis cases),

swabs, joint fluid

Neisseria meningitidis DNA typing

4 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, NPA, pericardial fluid, EDTA/citrated whole blood - may be useful in suspected meningitis cases

Parvovirus B19 DNA and quantitation ▲

Next day

EDTA/citrated whole blood, amniotic fluid, serum/plasma, CSF, bone marrow

Pneumocystis jirovecii (aka carinii) DNA

Next day

Sputum, BAL, NPA preferred.

Polyoma BK virus DNA ▲

Next day

EDTA/citrated whole blood, serum/ plasma, urine

Polyoma BK virus DNA quantitation ▲

Next day

EDTA/citrated whole blood, serum / plasma, 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

Pseudomonas aeruginosa ▲

Next day

EDTA whole blood, corneal scrape, eye swab, contact lens solution, vitreous biopsy fluid

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. 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

Rhinovirus RNA

Same day

Any upper / lower respiratory specimen

Rhinovirus typing (Research only)

3 days

Any positive Rhinovirus respiratory specimen

Rubella virus RNA Ψ ▲

3 days

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, Eye wash, Tissues , joint fluid ▲ and pleural fluid ▲

Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA

Same day

Whole blood, CSF and pleural fluid

Toxoplasma gondii DNA

Next day

CSF, EDTAwhole blood, amniotic fluid, vitreous and aqueous fluid ▲

Treponema pallidum DNA

2 days

CSF, genital swab

Trichomonas vaginalis DNA

2 days

Genital swab

Tropheryma whipplei DNA

5 days

CSF, tissue and almost any cellular material including whole blood. PLEASE DO NOT SEND SERUM.

Ureaplasma urealyticum/parvum DNA

2 days

Urine, genital swab, thin preps ▲, semen ▲

Neonates- NPA, ET secretions

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

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 Group A Streptococcus, Measles RNA, N. 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