Home – Our services – Pathology – Microbiology and virology – Test information

Test information

Test information including details on the specimen and the expected turnaround time, from when the referral laboratory receives the sample.

Turnaround times

Microbiology turnaround times will be updated when any relevant SOP is altered.

Turnaround times for referred tests are from when the referral laboratory receives the sample.

Test nameSpecimenTurnaround time
ACANTHAMOEBA PCR (Referred)Contact lens fluid, corneal scrape in sterile saline in Plain sterile (universal)3 days
ADENOVIRUS PCREDTA, throat swab, eye swab, faeces3 working days
ANTENATAL SEROLOGYSerum separator tubes8 working days
ANTIBIOTIC ASSAYS
(Biochemistry: gentamicin, vancomycin & tetcoplanin)		Serum separator tube2 hours
ANTIBIOTIC ASSAYS
(Referred: Amikacin & Tobramycin)		Serum separator tubeUp to 7 days (phoned report)
B-D-Glucan (Referred)Serum separator tubeUp to 7 days
BLOOD CULTURESAerobic and Anaerobic bottles (or Paediatric bottle)Up to 6 days
In the case of suspected endocarditis, up to 11 days
BORRELIA BURGDORFERI SEROLOGYSerum separator tube2 working days
CARBAPENAMASE CULTURE SCREEN (CPE)Pink – topped COPAN E-swab (rectal swab) or stool sample in plain top universalUp to 72 hours
CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS PCRPenile swab, Endocervical swab, Urine (minimum 5 ml required)3 working days
CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILEFaeces4 hours
CORNEAL SCRAPE SWAB/PLATESPink – topped COPAN E-swab / plates from microbiology on requestUp to 4 weeks
CSF VIROLOGY PCRPlain sterile (universal), 200ul minimum48 hours – 2 weeks depending on test
CSF BACTERIAL PCR (N.meningitidis, S. pneumoniae etc.) (Referred)Plain sterile (universal)Up to 5 days
CULTURE – CSFPlain sterile (universal)Up to 4 days
CULTURE – CAPDLarge sterile potUp to 7 days
CULTURE – SWABS (wound/skin)Pink – topped COPAN E-swabUp to 4 days
CULTURE – SWABS (ENT)Pink – topped COPAN E-swabUp to 7 days
CULTURE – SWABS (vaginal/penile/endocervical/urethral)Pink – topped COPAN E-swabUp to 4 days
CULTURE – TISSUE/FLUIDPlain sterile (universal)Up to 8 days
CULTURE – SPUTUM/BALSPUTUM/BAL/COUGH SWABS – FROM CYSTIC FIBROSIS PATIENTSPlain sterile (universal)Plain sterile (universal) or Pink – topped COPAN E-swabUp to 5 daysUp to 8 days
CYTOMEGALOVIRUS (CMV) AVIDITYSerum separator tube3 working days
CYTOMEGALOVIRUS (CMV) SEROLOGYSerum separator tube3 working days
DNAse BSerum separator tubeUp to 7 days
ENTEROVIRUS PCRCSF, green topped viral swab3 working days
EPSTEIN BARR VIRUS (EBV) SEROLOGYSerum separator tube3 working days
FAECAL – BACTERIAL PATHOGENS PCR & ENTERIC VIRAL PATHOGENS PCRBlue faeces potUp to 5 days
FUNGAL CULTURE – SPUTUM/BALHAIR/NAIL CLIPPINGS/SKIN SCRAPINGSPlain sterile (universal)DermapakUp to 3 weeks
GALACTOMANNAN (Aspergillus index value) (Referred)Serum separator tubeUp to 7 days
HELICOBACTER PYLORI ANTIGENBlue faeces pot7 working days
HEPATITIS A-C SEROLOGYSerum separator tube3-5 working days
HEPATITIS B PCREDTA7-14 working days
HEPATITIS C PCREDTA3-5 working days
HEPATITIS E SEROLOGYSerum separator tubes7 working days
HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE 1 AND 2 PCRCSF, eye swab & genital swab green topped viral swab2 working days
HIV SEROLOGYSerum separator tube2 working days
HIV RNA PCREDTA3-5 working days
INFLUENZA A & B PCRNose/throat swab (green topped viral swab), induced sputum, BAL48 hours – 24 hours in peak season
LEGIONELLA ANTIGENUrine24 hours
MRSA CULTURE SCREEN – NOSE/GROIN, WOUND, URINE, SPUTUMPink – topped COPAN E-swabUp to 2 days
MEASLES IgMSerum separator tube5 working days
MEASLES IgGSerum separator tube3-5 working days
MRSA PCRPink – topped COPAN E-swabUp to 4 hours
MUMPS IgGSerum separator tube2 working days
MUMPS IgMSerum separator tube5 working days
MYCOBACTERIAL PCR (Referred)
On consultant request		Various types3 days
MYCOPLASMA IgMSerum separator tube5 working days
MYCOBACTERIA CULTURE (Referred)AFB STAIN  (Referred)Sputum/BAL/fluids/tissue/ 3 x early morning urine3 months4 days
PARASITE MICROSCOPYFaeces48 hours
PARAINFLUENZA VIRUSES 1,2,3 PCRNose/throat swab (green topped viral swab), induced sputum, BAL48 hours – 24 hours in peak season
PARVOVIRUS B19 SEROLOGYSerum separator tube3 working days
PNEUMOCOCCAL URINARY ANTIGENUrine – in white topped sterile universal24 hours
QUANTIFERON GOLDQuantiferon tubes7 days
RSV PCRNose/throat swab (green topped viral swab), induced sputum, BAL48 hours – 24 hours in peak season
RUBELLA ANTIBODIESSerum separator tube5 working days
SYPHILIS SCREENSerum separator tube2 working days
TORCH SCREENSerum separator tube5 working days
TOXOPLASMA SEROLOGYSerum separator tube2 working days
URINE CULTUREBoric acid universal or 7ml paediatric boric acid container (red top)Up to 3 days
VARICELLA ZOSTER IgGSerum separator tubes3 working days
VZV PCRCSF, skin swab green topped viral swab2 working days

Tests performed in virology for haematology

Test nameSpecimenTurnaround time
BCR-ABLEDTA2 working days
FII PROTHROMBIN & FV LEIDENBlue citrate tube24 hours

*Other tests are available, some of which are sent to reference laboratories. Check with the laboratory if further information is required.