16 Microbiology Test Repertoire Table 1

Test Name	Tube or	Alternative	Lab test	Test info	Normal	Department/ ref lab address	Turnaround	Urgent
	Sample type	names	code		ranges/		times	requests
					results reported	(If blank-test done on site)		Please telephone
					as
Adenovirus	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		ADNO	Part of respiratory screen			5 working days	Not available as urgent test
Adenovirus	Faeces		FMK	Causative of Diarrhoea			1 working day	1 hour
Amoebic IFAT	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	Amoebic dysentery	AMIF	Consider warm fresh faeces for microscopy		MPAR	14 Working days
Anti Staph	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		STAB	Of value in deepseated infections and osteomtelitis	Anti-nuclease <2 Ant-staphylococcal antibody <2	MGHR	21 working days
Antibiotic assay (also see specific antibiotic name)	Clotted blood,serum gel tube	Any antibiotic assay not specified by a named testcode	ANTT,ANTP,ANTR	Please give dose regimen and last dose time	Results telephoned. Refer to BNF for recommendations for levels	MDBR (Southmead)	1 working day
Arbovirus		Rickettsia, Haemorrhagic fever. Exotic viruses	ARBB	It is essential to state countries visited, duration of stay and return date with full clinical details and vaccines given	Tests appropriate to country and illness	MSPO
Aspergillus pptns	Clotted blood, serum gel tube.	Farmers lung	ASP		Qualitative report	MDBR	10 working days
Avian pptns			AVP,COCK,PARR	Please specify type of bird		MDBR	10 working days
Bartonella		Cat scratch fever, B.quintana or B.henselae	BAR	Occurs most often in children and young adults	<64 normal	MDBR	10 working days
Blood culture	Blood culture bottles		BC	All positive results are telephoned	Any clinical pathogens reported		1-5 days
Bordetella		Whooping cough, Pertussis	BRPU	Useful in persistent infection		MRMA	21 working days
Bordetella culture	Pernasal swab	Whooping cough, Pertussis	TS	Special swabs and culture plares required. Contact lab before collection 01305 254343			Up to 5 days
Brucella		Undulant fever B.abortus B.melitensis	BRUC	No longer endemic in UK. Give dates of travel or contact. B.melitensis acquired from goats	<4 CFT <80 IgM	MDLI	10 working days
Campylobacter antibodies			CAAB	Siginificant cause of Guilain Barre	<1280 Igm	MDPR	10 working days
Candida sensitivity
CAPD Fluid	Sterile universal	peritoneal dialysis fluid	CMC		WBC <100X10^6/L		Microscopy within an hour if urgent	Phone lab or on-call BMS
Chlamydia	Special collection kit	C.trachomatis	CTP	Please follow kit instructions	Qualitative report		2 working days	1 working day
Chlamydia	Clotted blood, serum gel tube.	C.pneumoniae, C.psittaci and L2 in venereal disease	PS,L2	Serology is rarely helpful in venereal infection except in PID or infertility	<64	MDBR	7 working days
Clostidium difficle toxin	10ml faeces in blue universal		FMC,FMK,FMA		Qualitative report - toxin detected or not detected. Occasionall ny equivocal result will be obtained.		Usually by 5pm same day
CMV IgG	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	Cytomegalovirus	CMV	To determine past infection	AU/mL <4 = susceptible		1 working day	1 hour
CMV IgM	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	Cytomegalovirus	CMVE (GLAN)	GLAN, group code in Lymphadenopathy	Qualitative report		1 working day	1 hour
CMV PCR	EDTA blood	Cytomegalovirus	CMVP	Useful to confirm disease process or monitor treatment	Quantitative result should be interpreted clinically	MDBR	3 working days Tested Tuesday and Thursday
Coxiella	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	Q fever, Queensland fever	Q1C,Q2C,QIM,QIG,CXIF	Can cause SBE or chronic respiratory disease	CFT <20 IF <80	MDBR	7 working days
Cross infection screen	Nose and groin swabs plus any wound or lesion sites	MRSA screen	CXN		Reported as MRSA isolated or not isolated.		24-72 hrs
CSF	Sterile universal	Spinal fluid	CMC		WBC <1x10^6/l		Microscopy within an hour if urgent	Phone lab or on-call BMS
CSF viral PCR (MO)	Plain white top universal container		CSMP	Normally tests for Herpes simplex Varicella zoster and Enterovirus, but nay additional viruses and bacteria may be added	Presence or absence of specified organisms	MPL	1 working day
CSF-PCR (MC)	Plain white top universal container		GBPC	PCR tests for unusual or exotic bacteria	Presence or absence of specified organisms	IRD	2-3 working days
DEAFF	EDTA blood and Plain (white top) urine	Early antigen detection of Cytomegalovirus	DEAF	Fresh specimens are essential. State if patient on any antiviral treatment	Qualitative result on urine Quantitative PCR reported in copies/mL on EDTA blood	MDBR	2-3 working days
Delta agent	Clotted blood, serum gel tube			Only co-infects with Hepatitis B		Virus reference Colindale	21 working days
Diphtheria antibodies	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	Corynebactrium	DIPL	post splenectomy and as Functional IgG test	Immunity level reported with result	MBIR	21 working days
EBV	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	Glandular fever. Infectious mononucleosis	EB,EBM,EBG,GLAN, EBNA	Classic illness but also raised LFTs	Recent, past or unresolved illness reported	MPPL	2 working days	1 hour
EM (Electron microscopy)	Faeces in cases of diarrhoea or scab or lesion material in exanthem	Small round structured virus, ORF	EM	Specimens will be referred to Bristol but in cases of diarrhoea may have EIA or PCR tests done rather than EM	Presence or absence of virus or virus group reported	MDBR	5 working days	1-2 days
Enterovirus	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	Bornholms disease	COXS	Test cover a range of enteroviruses	Qualitative result	MPEP	7 working days
Eye swab bacterial culture	Black charcoal swab	MC&S			Any clinical pathogens reported		24-48 hrs	Microscopy within an hour if urgent
Eye swab chlamydia	Chlamydia collection kit			Special collection kit from lab on 4346	Target organism
Eye swab virus isolation	Green virus swab				Any clinical pathogens reported
Faeces for culture	Blue universal	MC&S	FMC,FMK,FMA		Any clinical pathogens reported
Faeces for H pylori antigen test	Blue universal				Target organism		Usually by 5pm same day
Faeces for Norovirus	Blue universal				Target organism		24-48hrs
Faeces for parasites	Blue universal				Any clinical pathogens reported		24-48hrs
Flu A CFT	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	Influenza	RESP,FLAC		<20	MDBR	10 Working days
Flu A Immunofluorescence	Nasopharyngeal aspirate using transport medium or green tube virus swab on adults	Influenza	IF	Tested as part of respiratory battery Bird flu, swine flu tested if requested	Qualitative report		1 working day	2 hours
Flu B CFT	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	Influenza	RESP,FLBC		<20	MDBR	10 Working days
Flu B Immunofluorescence	See above		IF	See above	Qualitative report		1 working day	2 hours
Fluid/aspirate/pus	Sterile universal	Fluid/aspirate/pus	PMC	Send material if available NOT just a swab	Any clinical pathogens reported		24-48 hrs plus 4 days for enrichment culture	Microscopy within an hour if urgent
Fungal culture	Hair, nail clippings or skin scrapings. Swabs accepted if for yeasts only.		NMC		Any clinical pathogens reported		7-14 days
Fungal pptns	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	Farmers lung	MFP,ASP,FARM	Please specifiy particular antigens and particulalry Aspergillus	Qualitative result	MDBR	7 working days
Gentamicin level	Clotted blood, serum gel tube			See collection times in clinical guidance on intranet	clinical guidance on intranet		Same day
Genital swabs	Black charcoal swab Urethral swab, cervical swab, high vaginal swab		GMC,GME		Any clinical pathogens reported		24- 48hrs
H. influenzae	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	Haemophilus, Hib	HIBA	post splenectomy and as Functional IgG test	Immunity level reported with result	MBIR	21 working days
H. pylori Faecal antigen test	Faeces/blue universal	Helicobacter		Determines current infection			1 working day	1 hour
H. pylori serum antibody test	Serum - brown gel tube	Helicobacter	HELI	No longer performed use faecal antigen test
Hantaan virus	Clotted blood, serum gel tube.		HAAB	Febrile illness Rat associated		MDPO	10 working days
HBV Viral Load	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		HBVL	For infectivity in long term carriers and to monitor treatment	Reported as copies/mL and Log copies/mL	Virus reference Colindale	21 working days
HCV genotype	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		HCVG	To determine subtype for treatment purposes		Delphic
HCV PCR	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		CPCR	For confirmation of infectivity	Qualitative result	MDBR	7 working days
HCV Viral Load	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		HCVL	Rarely required for treatment monitoring	Reported as copies/mL and Log copies/mL	Delphic	7 working days
Hep A IgM	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		HAM,(ABC)	Test in acute hepatitis with raised bilirubin	Qualitative report		1 working day	1 hour
Hep B Ab	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		SAB,SABV,SABP,(RVS)	For post vaccination testing and needlestick recipiants	<10 IU/mL = susceptible >10 IU/mL = Positive responder		7 working days	2 hours
Hep B confirmation markers	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		CAB,EAG,EAB,CAM	Markers of infectivity, only request in positive cases	Qualitative result	MDBR	7 working days
Hep B core Ab	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		CAB	Post infection marker	Qualitative report		2 working days	2 hours
Hep BsAG (other)	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	Surface antigen	HBS,(HBC,VD,VDC,VDCH,ABC,VDH)	Marker of circulating virus	Qualitative report		3 working days	2 hours
HEP C confirmation	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		HCCO		Reported as other tests and line assay	MDBR	14 Working days
Hep E	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		HEAB	Rare Pig associated and foreign travel		Virus reference Colindale	21 working days
Hepatitus C antibody	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		HCV,(HBC,VDC,SHC,VDCH,ABC)	Antibody testing is not a test of immunity	Qualitative report	Virology/Serology 01305 254349	3 working days	Not available as urgent test
Herpes virus isolation	Green tube virus swab	Herpes simplex	ISOH		Negatives reported at 3 days, culture kept for 7 days		3 working days
HIV antibody	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	AIDS	HIV,SHC,VDCH,VDH,SYH	Marker of infection	Qualitative report		3 working days	3 hours
HIV confirmation	Clotted blood, serum gel tube			only reported on paper not in computer	Multiple tests including typing	Virus reference Colindale	14 Working days
HIV Viral Load	Two 7.4mL EDTA tubes		HILO	To monitor infectivity and treatment	<50	Royal Free Hospital	7 working days
HSV CFT	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	Herpes simplex serology	HSVC	Rarely useful for diagnosis	<20	MDBR
HSV EIA			HSEIA	For IgM and typing purposes	Qualitative result	Virus reference Colindale	21 working days
HSV IgG	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		HSVG	For typing	Type specified	Virus reference Colindale	21 working days
HTLV I/II	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		HTLV	Significant in transplants and Milk donors		Virus reference Colindale	14 Working days
Legionella Antibody	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	Pontiac Fever	LEGI	Antibody may take up to 4 weeks to develop Urinary antigen is preferable in acute cases	<20	Virus reference Laboratory	14 working days
Legionella urinary Antigen	Urine in plain universal	Pontiac fever	LEGU	Unusual pathogen -test pneumococcal first. Antigen dissappears after 10-14 days. Discuss with Consultant Microbiologist.	Qualitative report		3 hours	30 minutes
Leishmania	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		LEIA	Discuss with medical microbioliogist	Qualitative result	MPAR	14 Working days
Leptospira	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	Weils disease	LEPT	Please give possible contact, occupation and leisure activities	Qualitative result	MPHE	14 Working days
Lyme Disease	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	B. burgdorferi Borrelia	LYD LYDW		Qualitative report		1 working day. Positive requiring confirmation 7 - 10 days	1 hour
Malaria antibody	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		MALI	Send EDTA blood for antigen test and microscopy to Haematology		MMHT	14 Working days
Measles CFT	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		MEA	Suggest salivary test using kit from HPU Tel01202 851272	Reported direct from Colindale	Virus reference Laboratory
Measles immunity	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		MEAI	Rarely needed	Qualitative result	MPPR	14 Working days
Meningo PCR (MC)	Plain white top universal container	Neisseria meningitidis	NPCR	Str,pneumonia may be included if specified	Presence or absence of specified organisms	MMMA	2-3 working days
MRSA rapid screen	Special Nose and groin swabs following discussion with IPC	MRSA fast track, MRSA PCR	MRPC	Request must be confirmed with Infection control before test will be undertaken.	MRSA PCR positive or negative		80 minutes from receipt of sample	80 minutes from receipt of sample
Mumps IgM IgG	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		MUMM,MUMG	Suggest salivary test using kit from HPU Tel01202 851272	Qualitative result	MPPR	14 Working days
Mycoplasma antibody	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	Atypical pneumonia	MYCL	Screening test for IgM and IgG. Specific IgM reported if titre rasied	Titre of <20 to 160 normal		1working day	3 hours
Paraflu Immunofluorescence	See above		IF	See above	Qualitative report		1 working day	2 hours
Parasitology on stool sample	blue universal with spoon	Giardiasis Crytosporidium, worms	FMA	Detection of parasitic ova and cysts. Consider ‘hot stool’ sample – sent to the lab while still warm.	Any clinical pathogens reported		1 working day	Telephone if urgent
Parvovirus IgM IgG	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		PARM,PB19	Test available during pregnancy. Booking bloods can be tested retrospectively or as a pair with current blood	Qualitative result	MDBR	7 working days
Pneumococcal Antibodies	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		PNAB	Post spelenectomy	Reported wth qualifying comment of immunity level	MDPR	14 Working days
Pneumococcal urinary Antigen	Urine in plain universal		PNEU		Qualitative report		3 hours	30 minutes
Referred tests	Clotted blood, serum gel tube, unless EDTA speified by laboratory		REFL,REF2	Used for tests that have no defined test code
Rotavirus	Blue universal		FMK	Reported as positive or negative	Qualitative report
RSV CFT	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		RSVC	Acute respiratory specimens (NPA) are more useful than serology especially in cildren	<20	MDBR	14 Working days
RSV test pack	NPA in transport medium		RSTP	Tested as part of respiratory battery	Qualitative report		3 hours	30 minutes
Rubella (A/N)	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	German Measles	ANT,ANH,AHH	Please use ante natal request form with signed HIV consent	<10 IU/mL = susceptible >10 IU/mL = Antibodies detected		7 working days	1 hour
Rubella (other)	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	German Measles	RUBS,RVS	Prepregnancy screening or care worker	<10 IU/mL = Susceptible >10 IU/mL = Antibodies detected		7 working days	1 hour
Rubella HAI	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		RHAI	Very occasionaly tested with others in doubtful infection cases	Report in the context of other tests. See Rubela IgM and IgG	MDPR	14 Working days	5 working days
Rubella IgM	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	German Measles	RIGM	Current infection ? It is essential to give contact dates	Qualitative report	MPPR	5 working days	2 working days
Shistosoma antibody	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	Bilharzia	SHI	Antibody may take up to 3 months to develop Check dipstick for haematuria and FBC for eosinophilia and send only if either of these are positive. Antibody levles may remain high for 18 months after infection.	Reported in bands of likelihood of infection 1 = 63% 2=76% 3=77% 4=82% 5=88% 6 or more 90%	MPAR	14 Working days
Sputum for routine bacterial culture	Sterile universal		SAC		Any clinical pathogens reported		24-48hrs
Sputum for TB culture	Sterile universal		TBC		Presence of TB or similar organisms reported		Microscopy 24hrs .Culture 3-6 weeks	Phone lab if urgent microscopy required.
Sputum from Cystic	Sterile universal		SCY		Any clinical pathogens reported		48-72hrs
STD screen	Black charcoal swab Urethral swab, cervical swab, throat swab, rectal swab as appropriate.	GC culture	GMG		Any clinical pathogens reported		24-48 hrs
Streptococcal antibodies	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		STRA	Do not use if bacteriology positive. Use for glomerulonephritis and deep seated infections	Anti-DNAse <200 Ant-Streptococcal Ab <200	MPPL	5 working days
Swine flu	Throat and Nose swab in green tube	H1N1	RPCR	PCR test	Qualitative report	MDBR	2 working days	2 working days
Syphilis	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	Lues, Wasserman,WR,VDRL,RPR,TPHA	SY (ANT,ANH,AHH)	Primary screening test. Further markers if positive	Qualitative		2 working days	Not available as urgent test
Syphilis confirmation	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		SYPE,SYPM.RPR,TPHA	Reported with other confirmatory tests	Qualitative result	MDBR	7 working days
T. cruzi	Clotted blood, serum gel tube	Trypanosomiasis	TCRU	Discuss with medical microbioliogist	Qualitative result	MPAR	14 Working days
TB culture	Any sample type in sterile container. Urine samples in 250ml bottles. Phone 4346 for bottles.		TBC		Presence of TB or similar organisms reported		Microscopy 24hrs. Culture 1-6 weeks	Phone if urgent microscopy required or to discuss PCR request.
TB PCR (MO)	Any sample as per TB culture		TPCR, MYPC	Detects mycobaterial DNA			72 hours from receipt
TB rapid (MC)	Any sample as per TB culture		TBR	Detects Mycobaterial DNA			1-6 weeks
Tetanus Ab	Clotted blood, serum gel tube		TEAB	Use in immunodeficient cases	Report contains indication of immunity level	MBIR	21 working days
Thread worms	Sellotape slide	pin worms	FMK	Sellotape slide - impression of anal area taken with clear tape and stick to one side of glass slide.