Microbiology Tests

Test Information

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 name	Specimen	Turnaround time
ACANTHAMOEBA PCR (Referred)	Contact lens fluid, corneal scrape in sterile saline in Plain sterile (universal)	3 days
ADENOVIRUS PCR	EDTA, throat swab, eye swab, faeces	3 working days
ANTENATAL SEROLOGY	Serum separator tubes	8 working days
ANTIBIOTIC ASSAYS (Biochemistry: gentamicin, vancomycin & tetcoplanin)	Serum separator tube	2 hours
ANTIBIOTIC ASSAYS (Referred: Amikacin & Tobramycin)	Serum separator tube	Up to 7 days (phoned report)
B-D-Glucan (Referred)	Serum separator tube	Up to 7 days
BLOOD CULTURES	Aerobic and Anaerobic bottles (or Paediatric bottle)	Up to 6 days In the case of suspected endocarditis, up to 11 days
BORRELIA BURGDORFERI SEROLOGY	Serum separator tube	2 working days
CARBAPENAMASE CULTURE SCREEN (CPE)	Pink – topped COPAN E-swab (rectal swab) or stool sample in plain top universal	Up to 72 hours
CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS PCR	Penile swab, Endocervical swab, Urine (minimum 5 ml required)	3 working days
CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE	Faeces	4 hours
CORNEAL SCRAPE SWAB/PLATES	Pink – topped COPAN E-swab / plates from microbiology on request	Up to 4 weeks
CSF VIROLOGY PCR	Plain sterile (universal), 200ul minimum	48 hours – 2 weeks depending on test
CSF BACTERIAL PCR (N.meningitidis, S. pneumoniae etc.) (Referred)	Plain sterile (universal)	Up to 5 days
CULTURE – CSF	Plain sterile (universal)	Up to 4 days
CULTURE – CAPD	Large sterile pot	Up to 7 days
CULTURE – SWABS (wound/skin)	Pink – topped COPAN E-swab	Up to 4 days
CULTURE – SWABS (ENT)	Pink – topped COPAN E-swab	Up to 7 days
CULTURE – SWABS (vaginal/penile/endocervical/urethral)	Pink – topped COPAN E-swab	Up to 4 days
CULTURE – TISSUE/FLUID	Plain sterile (universal)	Up to 8 days
CULTURE – SPUTUM/BAL SPUTUM/BAL/COUGH SWABS – FROM CYSTIC FIBROSIS PATIENTS	Plain sterile (universal) Plain sterile (universal) or Pink – topped COPAN E-swab	Up to 5 days Up to 8 days
CYTOMEGALOVIRUS (CMV) AVIDITY	Serum separator tube	3 working days
CYTOMEGALOVIRUS (CMV) SEROLOGY	Serum separator tube	3 working days
DNAse B	Serum separator tube	Up to 7 days
ENTEROVIRUS PCR	CSF, green topped viral swab	3 working days
EPSTEIN BARR VIRUS (EBV) SEROLOGY	Serum separator tube	3 working days
FAECAL – BACTERIAL PATHOGENS PCR & ENTERIC VIRAL PATHOGENS PCR	Blue faeces pot	Up to 5 days
FUNGAL CULTURE – SPUTUM/BAL HAIR/NAIL CLIPPINGS/SKIN SCRAPINGS	Plain sterile (universal) Dermapak	Up to 3 weeks
GALACTOMANNAN (Aspergillus index value) (Referred)	Serum separator tube	Up to 7 days
HELICOBACTER PYLORI ANTIGEN	Blue faeces pot	7 working days
HEPATITIS A-C SEROLOGY	Serum separator tube	3-5 working days
HEPATITIS B PCR	EDTA	7-14 working days
HEPATITIS C PCR	EDTA	3-5 working days
HEPATITIS E SEROLOGY	Serum separator tubes	7 working days
HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE 1 AND 2 PCR	CSF, eye swab & genital swab green topped viral swab	2 working days
HIV SEROLOGY	Serum separator tube	2 working days
HIV RNA PCR	EDTA	3-5 working days
INFLUENZA A & B PCR	Nose/throat swab (green topped viral swab), induced sputum, BAL	48 hours – 24 hours in peak season
LEGIONELLA ANTIGEN	Urine	24 hours
MRSA CULTURE SCREEN – NOSE/GROIN, WOUND, URINE, SPUTUM	Pink – topped COPAN E-swab	Up to 2 days
MEASLES IgM	Serum separator tube	5 working days
MEASLES IgG	Serum separator tube	3-5 working days
MRSA PCR	Pink – topped COPAN E-swab	Up to 4 hours
MUMPS IgG	Serum separator tube	2 working days
MUMPS IgM	Serum separator tube	5 working days
MYCOBACTERIAL PCR (Referred) On consultant request	Various types	3 days
MYCOPLASMA IgM	Serum separator tube	5 working days
MYCOBACTERIA CULTURE (Referred) AFB STAIN (Referred)	Sputum/BAL/fluids/tissue/ 3 x early morning urine	3 months 4 days
PARASITE MICROSCOPY	Faeces	48 hours
PARAINFLUENZA VIRUSES 1,2,3 PCR	Nose/throat swab (green topped viral swab), induced sputum, BAL	48 hours – 24 hours in peak season
PARVOVIRUS B19 SEROLOGY	Serum separator tube	3 working days
PNEUMOCOCCAL URINARY ANTIGEN	Urine – in white topped sterile universal	24 hours
QUANTIFERON GOLD	Quantiferon tubes	7 days
RSV PCR	Nose/throat swab (green topped viral swab), induced sputum, BAL	48 hours – 24 hours in peak season
RUBELLA ANTIBODIES	Serum separator tube	5 working days
SYPHILIS SCREEN	Serum separator tube	2 working days
TORCH SCREEN	Serum separator tube	5 working days
TOXOPLASMA SEROLOGY	Serum separator tube	2 working days
URINE CULTURE	Boric acid universal or 7ml paediatric boric acid container (red top)	Up to 3 days
VARICELLA ZOSTER IgG	Serum separator tubes	3 working days
VZV PCR	CSF, skin swab green topped viral swab	2 working days
Tests preformed in Virology for Haematology
BCR-ABL	EDTA	2 working days
FII PROTHROMBIN & FV LEIDEN	Blue citrate tube	24 hours

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

Test Information

Cookie settings