Ear Swab Culture Culture Ear swab Transport swab (blue top) 4 days none no Eye Swab Culture Culture Eye swab Transport swab (blue top) 4 days none no Faeces Culture Microscopy & Culture Faeces (<20mls) Universal with spoon (blue top) 4 days clinical details are essential for processing no Fungal Culture Microscopy & Culture Skin, hair, fungal culture kit / universal (white top) 1 week for microscopy 4 weeks for culture none no Gonococcal Culture Culture Urethral swab Transport swab (orange top) 3 days transport delay may reduce sensitivity of test no Gonococcal Culture Culture Endocervical swab Transport swab (blue top) 3 days transport delay may reduce sensitivity of test no Gynaecological Culture Microscopy & Culture Endocervical swab Transport swab (blue top) 4 days clinical details are essential for processing no Gynaecological Culture Microscopy & Culture Vaginal swab Transport swab (blue top) 4 days clinical details are essential for processing please send endocervical swab if gonococcal culture is required no IV Cannulae Culture Culture End of cannula tip (2-5cm length) Universal (white top) 4 days none no
Fluid Culture Gram stain, Crystals & Culture Joint fluid (<20mls) Universal (white top) 4 days, plus 2 days for enrichment culture none yes, by arrangement Lavage Culture Gram stain & Culture Broncho-alveolar lavage (<20mls) Universal (white top) 4 days none no Leg Ulcer Swab Culture Culture Leg ulcer swab Transport swab (blue top) 4 days routine swabbing is unnecessary unless there is indication of infection no Mouth Swab Culture Culture Mouth swab Transport swab (blue top) 4 days Culture directed to Candida sp. no MRSA Culture Culture for MRSA only Swab / urine Transport swab (blue top) / universal container 3 days Culture directed to MRSA only No MRSA PCR Rapid test for MRSA Swab Transport swab (red top) 2-4 hours Limited to Aldbourne patients and patients who have missed conventional tetsing No Neonatal Screen Culture Culture & gastric aspirate Transport swab (blue top) / universal container 4 days swabs from throat, umbilicus and ear no Nose Swab Culture Culture for Staph. aureus only Nose swab Transport swab (blue top) 4 days pernasal swabs are required for the isolation of Pertussis sp. no Parasitology Microscopy for Schistosomiasis Urine (<20mls) Universal (white top) 2 days Collection of urine between 10am and 2pm no
Parasitology Microscopy Faeces (<20mls) Universal with spoon (blue top) 2 days none no Parasitology (Pinworm) Microscopy Sellotape slide Collection kits available from laboratory 2 days none no PD Fluid Culture Cell Gram stain & Culture Peritoneal dialysis fluid (<20mls) Universal (white top) 4 days, plus 2 days for enrichment culture differential cell counts performed on raised WBC counts yes, by arrangement Pertussis Culture Culture Pernasal swab Pernasal swab (orange top) obtained from laboratory 7 days none no Pleural Fluid Culture Gram stain & Culture Pleural fluid (<20mls) Universal (white top) 4 days, plus 2 days for enrichment culture none yes, by arrangement Pus Culture Gram stain & Culture Pus (<20mls) Universal (white top) 4 days, plus 2 days for enrichment culture none yes, by arrangement Rotavirus Detection Antigen Detection Faeces Universal with (blue top) 1 day limited to children <4years no Skin Swab Culture Culture Skin swab Transport swab (blue top) 4 days none no Sputum Culture Gram stain & Culture Sputum Universal (white top) 4 days samples should be collected early morning or after physio no
Wound Swab Culture Culture Wound swab Transport swab (blue top) 4 days pus sample should be sent, if available no Investigation Test Sample Container TAT Limitations Out-of-Hours Antenatal Serology Antibody Detection Clotted blood (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) 7 days requests for HIV test must be clearly indicated and signed no ASO Titres Antibody Detection Clotted blood (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) 14 days clinical details are essential for processing no Atypical Pneumonia Antigen Detection Broncho-alveolar lavage (<20mls) Universal (white top) 1 day please contact lab if urgent processing is required for PCP no Atypical Serology Antibody Detection Clotted blood (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) 14 days clinical details and date of onset are essential for processing no Bone Screen Antigen & Antibody Detection Clotted blood (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) 7 days clinical details are essential for processing no Cardiac Virus Serology Antibody Detection Clotted blood (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) 14 days clinical details and date of onset are essential for processing no Cardiac PCR DNA Detection by PCR EDTA sample (2-3mls) Vacutainer (purple-top) 14 days clinical details and date of onset are essential for processing no
Chickenpox Serology Antibody Detection Clotted blood (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) 1 day (urgent) 7 days (normal) please contact lab if urgent processing is required no CMV Serology Antibody Detection Clotted blood (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) 14 days clinical details are essential for processing no CMV PCR DNA Detection by PCR EDTA sample (2-3mls) Vacutainer (purple-top) 7 days clinical details are essential for processing no Conjunctival Chlamydia Infection DNA Detection by PCR Conjunctival swab Chlamydia transport swab 1-2 days none no EBV Serology Antibody Detection Clotted blood (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) 14 days clinical details are essential for processing no EBV PCR Antigen Detection EDTA sample (2-3mls) Vacutainer (purple-top) 7 days clinical details are essential for processing no Genital Chlamydia Infection DNA Detection by PCR Urine (<20mls) Universal top) 4 days patient should not have urinated for 2 hours prior to specimen collection no Genital Chlamydia Infection DNA Detection by PCR Endocervical swab Chlamydia transport swab 4 days none no Helicobacter Serology Antibody Detection Clotted blood (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) 7 days clinical details are essential for processing no
Hepatitis A Serology Antibody Detection Clotted blood (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) 7 days clinical details are essential for processing, especially onset date no Hepatitis B Antibody Antibody Detection Clotted blood (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) 7 days vaccination history required for full interpretation of result no Hepatitis B Core Antibody Antibody Detection Clotted blood (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) 7 days clinical details are essential for processing no Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Antibody Detection Clotted blood (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) 7 days requests must be clearly indicated and signed on the request form no Hepatitis B (DNA) Viral Load DNA Detection by PCR EDTA sample (2-3mls) Vacutainer (purple-top) 14 days clinical details are essential for processing no Hepatitis C Serology Antibody Detection Clotted blood (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) 7 days requests must be clearly indicated and signed on the request form no Hepatitis C Viral Load / Genotype RNA Detection by PCR EDTA sample (2-3mls) Vacutainer (purple-top) 14 days clinical details are essential for processing no HIV Serology Antibody Detection Clotted blood (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) requests for HIV test must be clearly indicated and signed no HIV Viral Load DNA Detection by PCR EDTA sample (2-3mls) Vacutainer (purple-top) 10 days clinical details are essential for processing no
HSV Serology Antibody Detection Clotted blood (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) 14 days clinical details are essential for processing no Leptospira Serology Antibody Detection Clotted blood (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) 10 days clinical details, date of onset and exposure history are essential for processing no Serology Antibody Detection Clotted blood (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) 10 days clinical details, tick exposure and date of onset are essential for processing no Meningococcal PCR DNA Detection by PCR EDTA sample (2-3mls) Vacutainer (purple-top) 14 days clinical details are essential for processing no Parasite Serology Antibody Detection Clotted blood (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) 14 days clinical details, date of onset and travel history are essential for processing no Parvovirus Serology Antibody Detection Clotted (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) 14 days clinical details are essential for processing no Pneumococcal PCR DNA Detection by PCR EDTA sample (2-3mls) Vacutainer (purple-top) 14 days clinical details are essential for processing no RSV Detection Antigen Detection Nasopharyngeal aspirate (5-10mls) Trap bottle <1day none Saturday and Sunday morning, by arrangement only Rubella Serology Antibody Detection Clotted blood (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) 7 days clinical details are essential for processing no
Syphilis Serology Antibody Detection Clotted (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) 7 days clinical details are essential for processing no Toxoplasma Serology Antibody Detection Clotted (2-6mls) Vacutainer (red-top) 7 days clinical details are essential for processing no Detection DNA Detection by PCR Viral transport swab Transport swab (green top) 14 days clinical details are essential for processing no