|
Test
|
Specimen
|
Container
|
Required volume
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Laboratory
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Turnaround time
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Additional information
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Malaria detection
|
Blood
|
EDTA (purple top tube)
|
5-10ml
|
SGH- Haematology
|
|
Test performed by haematology
|
|
Malaria serology
[e-QUEST: Malaria reference test]
|
Not useful for diagnosis of acute infection. Discuss with microbiologist if requested.
|
|
Marburg virus
|
See under Haemorrhagic Fevers
|
|
Acute measles serology (IgM)
[e-QUEST: Measles IgM reference test]
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
Reference
|
4 days
|
|
|
Measles IgG
[e-QUEST: Measles immunity]
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
SGH
|
2 days
|
|
|
Measles PCR
|
Discuss with a virologist
|
|
Meliodosis investigations
|
Discuss with a microbiologist
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|
Meningococcal PCR
[e-QUEST: Meningococcal PCR Blood]
or
[e-QUEST: Meningococcal PCR CSF]
If meningitis/ meningococcal sepsis is suspected contact the laboratory and send the specimens immediately.
|
Blood
|
EDTA (purple top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
SGH
|
2 days
|
|
|
CSF
|
Sterile Universal
|
2-3 ml
|
SGH
|
2 days
|
Send separate specimens for glucose and protein analysis to appropriate departments
|
|
Meningococcal serology
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
Reference
|
28 days
|
Discuss with a microbiologist
|
|
Microscopy
|
Dependant on specimen type
|
Dependant on specimen type
|
Dependant on specimen type
|
SGH
|
same day
|
|
|
Microsporidia serology
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 mls
|
Reference
|
28 days
|
Discuss with a microbiologist
|
|
Milk bank serology screen
[e-QUEST: MILK BANK SCREEN]
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 mls
|
SGH
|
3-4 days
|
Consists of:
HIV Ab/ Ag
HTLV 1+2 Ab
Hep Bs Ag
Hep C IgG
Syphilis IgG
|
|
[e-QUEST: Minimal Antenatal]
Rubella and Syphilis only
|
See under Antenatal serology
For patients declining HIV and Hep BsAg
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|
Mouth swab
|
Swab in Amies transport medium with charcoal.
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
SGH
|
3 days
|
|
|
MRSA screen
|
Swab
|
Swab
|
N/A
|
SGH
|
2 days
|
Specimens are rejected if >48 hrs as sub optimal for the isolation or organisms
|
|
Acute mumps serology IgM
[e-QUEST: Mumps IgM reference test]
For clinical cases of mumps
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
Reference
|
10 days
|
Please state date of onset and contact history.
|
|
Mumps IgG
[Mumps immunity]
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
SGH
|
2 days
|
|
|
Mumps PCR
|
Discuss with a Virologist
|
|
Mycobacteria/ AFB (Tuberculosis & Atypical/ non- tuberculous): Microscopy (Ziehl-Nielsen/ auramine), Isolation
[e-QUEST: TB/ Mycobacteria culture]
Please state clearly on request form that Mycobacterial/ TB/ AFB investigation required.
|
Sputum
|
Sterile Universal (send 3 sputa for suspected pulmonary TB)
|
Min req vol (fluids)
= 3 ml
|
SGH/ Reference
|
6 -8 weeks
|
Samples are monitored continuously.
Any flagging positive are communicated to clinicians as an urgent result.
Mycobacterial investigations are not performed on-call (from 2000hrs to 0900hrs)
|
|
BAL/ gastric aspirates
CSF/ fluids/ tissue
|
Sterile Universal
|
|
Urine
|
Sterile universal (send early morning urine on 3 consecutive days)
|
|
Bonemarrow
|
Inoculated to BD Bactec Myco/F Lytic Culture Vials |
N/A
|
|
Mycobacterium tuberculosis immunoassays
(QuantiFERON
|
Blood |
QuantiFERON kit |
N/A |
SGH |
3-5 days |
Discuss with a microbiologist
See also Quantiferon-TB Gold Guidelines
Please note this is a time critical assay. Samples must be received in the laboratory within 16 hours of collection. Failure to adhere to this may compromise the validity of the result.
|
|
Mycobacterium tuberculosis PCR (fast-track)/ Rifampicin probes (MDR suspected)
|
BAL/Sputum/Tissue |
Sterile Universal |
3 ml minimum |
SGH |
.Same day testing once approved by microbiologist |
Discuss with a microbiologist.
|
|
Mycology MC&S (Systemic mycoses)
[e-QUEST: Mycology micro and culture]
|
Tissue, fluids, systemic
|
Sterile Universal
|
N/A
|
SGH
|
Microscopy 2 days
culture up to 6 weeks
|
Please state clinical history and if not Equest order state clearly on request form that fungal culture is required.
|
|
Mycology (Dermatophytes) Skin, nail & hair
[e-QUEST: Mycology micro and culture]
|
Skin, nail and hair
|
Sterile Universal or Dermapaks
|
N/A
|
SGH
|
Microscopy 2 days
culture 2 weeks
|
|
|
Mycoplasma genitalium PCR
|
Swab in transport medium; minimum volume 400 ul
Urine: min volume 3 ml
Extracted DNA
|
|
|
Reference |
10 days
|
|
|
Mycoplasma pneumoniae serology
[e-QUEST: Mycoplasma antibody]
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
SGH |
3 days
|
|
|
Nasal swab
|
Swab in Amies transport medium with charcoal.
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
SGH
|
3 days
|
|
|
Nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) for respiratory viruses [PCR]
|
Respiratory secretions
|
NPA trap (seal using loop of tubing)
|
1 ml minimum |
SGH
|
2 days
|
|
|
Needlestick donor serology
[e-QUEST: Needlestick donor]
Consists of Hep Bs Ag
CONSENT NEEDS TO BE OBTAINED PRIOR TO TESTING
Inform Occupational Health of all NSI
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
SGH
|
2 days
|
Please assess for risk factors for HepC/ HIV. State if these are required.
It is your responsibility to consent the patient.
|
|
Needlestick recipient serology
[e-QUEST: Needlestick recipient]
Inform Occupational Health of all NSI
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
SGH
|
2 days
|
|
|
Neonatal Viral Sepsis Screen
|
EDTA blood, CSF, Eye/Rectal/Throat Swab.
|
|
Minimum volume for EDTA or CSF
500 ul
|
SGH
|
2 days
|
|
|
New leukaemic serology
[e-QUEST: New leukaemic screen]
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
SGH
|
7 days
|
Consists of:
CMV IgG
EBV
HIV
Hep B sAg
Hep C IgG
Syphilis IgG
Toxoplasma IgG, IgM
Varicella IgG
|
|
Norovirus PCR
|
Faeces
|
Sterile universal 30ml faecal pot
|
1-2gm
|
SGH
|
2 days
|
|
|
Occupational Health screen
[e-QUEST: occ. health screen]
Includes:
Rubella IgG, Varicella IgG
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
SGH |
7-10 days
|
|
|
[e-QUEST: Ova cysts and parasites]
|
See under Faecal parasitology.
|
|
Pacemaker tips/ leads & other cardiac prostheses
|
Device
|
Sterile Universal
|
N/A
|
SGH
|
3 days
|
Will NOT be processed routinely.
Only where line sepsis is suspected.
|
|
Parainfluenza virus
|
See under respiratory viruses/ NPA
|
|
[e-QUEST: Partial Antenatal screen]
(Rubella, Syphilis and HepBsAg only)
|
See under Antenatal serology
For patents declining HIV only
|
|
Parvovirus serology IgM & IgG
[e-QUEST: Parvovirus B19 IgM & IgG]
Parvovirus B19 PCR
|
Blood (serum)
Blood (serum)/ amniotic fluid
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
SGH
Reference
|
2 days
3 days
|
Please state date of onset and if patient is pregnant.
|
|
Pernasal Swab
|
Use specific pernasal swab, see under Bordetella pertussis
|
|
Pertussis investigations
|
See under Bordetella pertussis
|
|
Pinworms
|
See under Threadworms
|
|
Plague
|
See under Yersinia pestis. Contact a Microbiologist urgently.
|
|
Pneumococcal antigen
|
Urine/ CSF
|
Sterile Universal
|
10-20 ml
|
SGH |
1 day
|
Needs prior authorization by a microbiologist
|
|
Pneumococcus PCR
|
Discuss with a Microbiologist
|
|
Pneumocystis jiroveci (PCP) PCR
|
Lower respiratory secretions (induced sputum/ BAL)
Lung biopsy
|
Sterile Universal
|
1 ml minimum |
SGH
|
2 days
|
|
|
Polio serology
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
Reference
|
7-14 days
|
Discuss with a virologist
|
|
Polio PCR
|
Faeces/ CSF
|
Sterile Universal
|
N/A |
Reference
|
7 days |
Discuss with a virologist
|
|
Throat swabs
|
Swab in Viral Transport Medium
|
|
Polyomaviruses (BK/ JC virus) PCR
|
Urine (BK)
CSF (JC)
|
Sterile Universal
|
|
Reference
|
3 days
|
Discuss with a virologist
|
|
EDTA blood (BK)
|
EDTA (purple top tube)
|
|
Postnasal swab for MC&S
|
Swab in Amies transport medium with charcoal.
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
SGH
|
3 days
|
|
|
Pseudomonas serology
[e-QUEST: Pseudomonas aeruginosa antibody]
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
SGH
|
2 days
|
Requires prior discussion with a microbiologist
|
|
Pus
|
See under Fluids
|