Pathogen Detection Services

We offer a comprehensive range of assays for the rapid detection of pathogens and host responses (see serology). We also offer viral load quantitation, genotyping and drug resistance typing for certain pathogens, please see the list below for details.

We will consider any project for the development of new molecular diagnostic assays, with the aim of improving the sensitivity or speed of diagnosis over existing methods.

All our laboratory diagnostic work is quality assured to UKAS standards.

Healthcare or other professional individuals/organisations are invited to discuss details of these services.

16S rRNA bacterial gene: detection, quantitation and sequencing
18S rRNA fungal gene detection and sequencing
Adenovirus (Q,T)
Acanthamoeba
Aspergillus genus
Bocavirus
Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella genus
Borrelia burgdorferi
Brucella genus
Candida albicans
Chlamydia pneumoniae
Chlamydia psittaci
Chlamydia trachomatis
Coronavirus 229E
Coronavirus OC43
Cryptococcus neoformans
Cytomegalovirus (Q)
Cytomegalovirus ganciclovir resistance
Enterovirus
Epstein Barr virus (Q)
Haemophilus ducreyi
Haemophilus influenzae/parainfluenzae
HBV drug resistance mutation screen
Hepatitis B virus (Q,T)
Hepatitis C virus (Q,T)
Hepatitis D virus
Hepatitis E virus
Herpes Simplex virus types 1 and 2 (T)
HIV-1 LTR, env, gag and pol genes
HIV-1 RNA (Q,T,R)
Human Herpesvirus 6 (Q)
Human Herpesvirus 7
Human Herpesvirus 8 (Q)
Human metapneumovirus
Influenza viruses (A and B)
Leptospira genus
Listeria monocytogenes
Measles virus
Mumps virus
Mycobacterium avium complex
Mycobacterium genus
Mycobacterium TB rifampicin resistance
Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex
Mycoplasma genitalium DNA
Mycoplasma genus
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Neisseria meningitidis (T)
Papillomavirus (T)
Parainfluenza viruses (1,2,3,4)
Parechovirus
Parvovirus B19 (Q)
Pneumocystis carinii (aka jiroveci)
Polyoma BK virus (Q)
Polyoma JC virus
Propionibacteria/Actinomyces
Respiratory Syncytial virus
Rhinovirus
Rubella virus
Staphylococcus genus
Streptococcus group A
Streptococcus group B
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Toxoplasma gondii
Treponema pallidum
Trichomonas vaginalis
Tropheryma whippelii
Ureaplasma urealyticum/parvum DNA
Varicella Zoster virus
West Nile Fever virus

Key

‘Q’: Quantitation
‘T’: Typing or subtyping (see below)
‘R’: Detection of drug resistance mutations (see below)

Notes

Adenovirus typing: Subgenus classification in all cases with specific type available in most.
Cytomegalovirus Gancilovir resistance: UL97 (codons 460-665) encoded resistance mutations only.
Hepatitis B virus: Classification of genotypes A to H. Screen of rt domain for the following resistance mutations: rtM204I/V (Lamivudine), rtV/G173L, rtV/L/M207I (Famciclovir), rtL180M (Lamivudine/Famciclovir), rtA181V/T, rtN236T (Adefovir) and rtI169T, rtT184G, rtS202I, rtM250V (Entecavir).
Hepatitis C virus: Classification of all genotypes/subtypes available in most cases.
HIV-1 Drug resistance: Complete screen of Protease (codons 1-99) and RT domains (codons 1-335).
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rifampicin resistance: Screen of rpoB gene codons 479-580.
Neisseria meningitidis typing: Classification of types A,B,C,W&Y.
Papillomaviruses: Classification of all genotypes available in most cases.
Micropathology customers can access prices and turnaround times for these tests in the Customer Area.

N.B. Whilst we can only accept direct instructions from healthcare professionals, we are happy to provide information to individuals, so that personal physicians may be informed of our services.

New assays are constantly under development. If an organism of interest is not on the above list, please enquire.