Our Microbiology laboratory provides a full range of testing for bacterial and fungal culture, as well as the antibiotic sensitivity of pathogenic (infectious) organisms. This includes those that can cause urinary, respiratory, gastrointestinal, wound or skin infections, and meningitis.
Our laboratory screens for a number of organisms that can cause cross-infection problems for hospitals, such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C. diff). We also perform intestinal parasite identification, testing for tuberculosis and screening for genitourinary infections, including chlamydia and gonorrhoea.
Our laboratory uses state-of-the-art molecular technology, enabling real-time, random access for diagnosis of C. diff, TB, chlamydia/gonorrhoea and other infections within 70 minutes of samples being placed onto the analyser.
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing
Our laboratory employs the following methods for antimicrobial susceptibility testing:
- Disc diffusion
- MIC strip
- Phoenix broth dilution
Abnormal test results
In the Virology and Infection and Immunity department there is no specific list for abnormal test results that gets called out to general practitioners (GP). The existing procedure is that some tests have been built to appear on the call back queue or Clinvue for review.
Comments are added where necessary and the GP may be called where it is clinically relevant to call the GP such as positive Hep B IgM and a GBM positive result and first time positive patients for Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. In Microbiology there are certain investigations that meet these criteria. The following will be telephoned out or emailed to the GP practice at the discretion of Microbiology Medical staff:
- Highly significant culture results such as Corynebacterium diphtheriae
- Multi-drug resistant organisms with limited treatment options
- Positive acid and alcohol fast microscopy and Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex culture
If clinical advice on any Microbiology result is required, please contact the Microbiology Medical Staff on 07827904038.
Microbiology test database
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