Virology and Serology

The Virology and Microbial Serology department tests serum to detect antibodies and antigens in the blood, which can indicate the presence of a range of viruses and other organisms, including HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis. The department provides a full diagnostic service, which includes supporting the management of infections during pregnancy, in infants, throughout the community, and in outbreak situations.

We can also check the level of immune protection against hepatitis B and rubella (German measles), and use advanced molecular techniques to detect the viruses that cause flu, herpes and other respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous system infections.

The clinical staff responsible for clinical advice, diagnostic and interpretative services are:

Virology clinical lead: Dr David Muir MBChB, MSc, PhD, FRCPath (GMC 3327601)

Urgent tests

Samples to be performed urgently must be discussed with the Infection & Immunity laboratory within working hours (9.00am – 5.30pm, Monday to Friday) on 020331 10130 (in the case of Virological investigations, with a Medical Virologist on 020331 10138 or 020331 10139).

If eligibility for same day testing is agreed, these must be in the laboratory at Charing Cross by the time specified by the lab team (according to details of the test).

Test Add Ons

Add on tests can be requested by contacting the Infection and Immunity laboratory directly by phone within working hours (9.00am – 5.30pm, Monday to Friday) on 020 331 10130 or via email to [email protected]

N.B. Test Add Ons cannot be requested on samples sent under the ‘A&E blood-borne virus screen.’

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:

1. Highly significant culture results such as Corynebacterium diphtheriae
2. Multi-drug resistant organisms with limited treatment options
3. 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.

Information for collection of samples

Please ensure the collection date is correct for all electronic orders placed.

If a ‘future order’ has been placed for a patient in advance, the collection date must be updated for the correct date of collection in the clinic ordering system. This cannot be done on receipt in the NWLP laboratories. Where this cannot be updated, a new order must be placed. Please do not re-print labels from fulfilled orders with incorrect collection dates.

Please ensure that every sample container requested by the ordering system is collected. Every sample container for which a label is printed must be sent to ensure all tests are performed. Tests associated with a label will not be processed if the associated sample container is not sent.

N.B. In rare cases where is not possible to take an additional sample (e.g. Cerebro-Spinal Fluid samples) the Infection & Immunity Laboratory must be contacted directly to enquire if the test can be added on to an existing container (placing an additional label in the sample bag with the sample or attaching more than one label on the same tube will not guarantee testing).

Please note: it is not possible to add Virology tests to blood samples tested in other laboratories.