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Test
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Specimen
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Container
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Required volume
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Laboratory
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Turnaround time
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Additional information
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[Q fever reference test]
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See under Coxiella burneti
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|
Rabies investigations
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Discuss with a virologist
|
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Rash (viral serology screen)
[e-QUEST: Rash non-vesicular]
ASO titre
Parvovirus IgM, IgG
Rubella IgM, IgG
[e-QUEST: Rash vesicular]
Varicella IgG
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Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
SGH
|
2-3 days
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Please state type and distribution of rash- this dictates which tests are performed.
Please state if patient is pregnant.
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Respiratory syncitial virus (RSV) IF/ PCR
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See under Respiratory viruses PCR/ NPA
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Respiratory virus PCR
[e-QUEST: Influenza A&B/ Parainfluenza/ RSV/SARS-CoV-2 Adenovirus/Metapneumovirus/Rhinovirus]
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Respiratory secretions
NPA, BAL, Sputum, Swab in viral transport medium.
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Sterile Universal
|
2 ml (min vol 200µl)
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SGH
|
2-3 days
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Tests run more frequently during peak influenza season |
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Rickettsial serology- Typhus or Spotted Fever
[e-QUEST: Rickettsial serology]
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Blood (serum)
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Clotted Blood (red top tube)
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5-10 ml
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Reference
|
5 days
|
Discuss with microbiology.
Provide a full travel history.
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Ross River virus serology
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See under Arboviral serology
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Rotavirus
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See under Faeces Virology investigations
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Rubella serology (acute)
[e-QUEST: Rubella IgM]
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Blood (serum)
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Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
SGH
|
1-2 days
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Please state if patient is pregnant.
|
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Rubella serology (immunity)
[e-QUEST: Rubella IgG screen]
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Blood (serum)
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Clotted Blood (red top tube)
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5-10 ml
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SGH
|
1-2 days
|
|
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Salmonella serology
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Blood (serum)
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Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
Reference
|
17 days
|
Requires prior discussion with a microbiologist
|
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SARS-CoV-2 PCR (Routine Testing)
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Swab in viral transport medium
|
Swab in viral transport medium
|
1 ml
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SGH
|
1 day
|
|
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SARS-CoV-2 PCR (Rapid Testing)
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Swab in viral transport medium
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Swab in viral transport medium |
1 ml
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SGH
|
4 hrs
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Bleep 2066 for triage. |
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SARS-CoV-2 (Fast-track)
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Swab in viral transport medium
|
Swab in viral transport medium |
1 ml
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SGH
|
5-6 hrs
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Please bring samples to Microbiology department, Level B, and leave in drop-box. |
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SARS-CoV-2 Antibody IgG
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Blood
(serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube) |
5-10 ml |
SGH |
1-2 days |
|
|
Schistosomiasis microscopy
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Faeces
|
Sterile Universal
|
1-2 gm
With the spatula provided transfer a plum-sized portion of faeces
|
SGH
|
7 days
2 days
|
3 specimens on 3 consecutive days – give clinical details |
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Urine (3 consecutive terminal urine samples collected at midday)
|
Sterile Universal
|
10 ml
|
|
Schistosomal serology
[e-QUEST: Schistosoma reference test]
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Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
Reference
|
28 days
|
Send at least 6 weeks post-exposure.
|
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Sellotape slide
|
See under Threadworms
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|
Seminal fluid for MC&S
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Seminal fluid
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Sterile Universal
|
N/A |
SGH
|
1-2 days
|
|
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Shigella serology
[e-QUEST: Shigella Serology]
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Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
Reference
|
14 days
|
Requires prior discussion with a microbiologist
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Shingles
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See under Varicella
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|
Sleeping sickness
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Send blood films for diagnosis of acute infection, otherwise see Trypanosomiasis serology
|
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Sputum/ ETA/ BAL/ NBL
[eQUEST: Sputum/ETA/BAL etc]
|
Respiratory
|
Sterile Universal
|
5-10 ml
|
SGH
|
2-3 days
|
Please refer to Mycobacteria for TB investigation.
|
|
Sputum (Cystic)
Cystic Sputum/cough swab)
|
Respiratory
|
Sterile Universal
|
5-10 ml
|
SGH |
6-8 days |
Please refer to Mycobacteria for TB investigation.
|
|
Staphylococcal serology
[e-QUEST: Staphylococcal reference test]
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Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
Reference
|
14 days
|
Requires prior discussion with a microbiologist
|
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Staphylococcal (MSSA/ MRSA) PCR
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Tissue/ Pus/ Swabs/ Fluids
|
Requires prior discussion with a microbiologist
|
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Stem cell transplant screen
[e-QUEST: Stem cell transplant screen]
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
SGH
|
7 days
|
Consists of:
CMV IgG
EBV (EBNA IgG)
HIV Ab/Ag
HTLV 1+2 Ab
Hepatitis B Core Ab
Hepatitis BsAg
Hepatitis C IgG
Syphilis IgG
Toxoplasma IgM, IgG
Varicella IgG
|
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Streptococcal serology (ASOT, Anti DNAse B)
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See under ASO titre/ Anti Streptolysin O and Anti DNAse B titre
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Strongyloides microscopy
|
See Faecal Parasitology/ OCP (may need up to 6 samples as is insensitive)
|
|
Strongyloides serology
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Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
Reference
|
28 days
|
|
|
Supra-pubic aspiration (SPA)
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See under Urine MC&S
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|
Swabs for MC&S (skin/ wound etc)
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Swab in Amies transport medium with charcoal.
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
SGH
|
4 days
|
Do not request MRSA swabs unless screening.
|
|
Syphilis serology
[e-QUEST: Syphilis antibody (blood)]
or
[e-QUEST: Syphilis antibody (CSF)]
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
SGH
|
1-3 days
|
|
|
CSF (VDRL, TPPA)
|
Sterile Universal
|
1-2 ml
|
Reference
|
|
Tapeworms / Taenia spp
|
See Faecal Parasitology/ OCP
|
|
Taenia (cysticercal) serology
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
Reference
|
28 days
|
For diagnosis of cysticercosis.
|
|
TB investigations
|
See under Mycobacteria
|
|
Teicoplanin levels
|
See under Antibiotic Assays
|
|
Tetanus toxin serology
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
Reference
|
7-14 days
|
Collect before antitoxin given. Discuss with microbiology if suspected.
|
|
Tissue/ Biopsy for MC&S
|
See under Fluids
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|
Thread worms
|
Place sellotape over perianal region
|
Transfer to clean microscope slide
|
N/A
|
SGH
|
1-2 days
|
Best taken early morning
|
|
Throat swabs
|
Swab in Amies transport medium with charcoal.
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
SGH
|
4 days
|
|
|
Tobramycin levels
|
See under Antibiotic Assays
|
|
[e-QUEST: TORCH screen (infant)]
For serological investigation of suspected congenital infection.
Toxoplasma IgM, CMV IgM, Rubella IgM, Syphilis
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
SGH
|
1-2 days |
If not requesting via e-QUEST please state "suspected congenital infection" and give clinical details.
|
|
[e-QUEST: TORCH screen (mother)]
For serological investigation of suspected intrauterine infection.
Toxoplasma IgG & IgM, CMV IgG & IgM, Rubella IgG & IgM +/- Parvovirus IgG & IgM, Syphilis.
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
SGH
|
1-2 days |
If not requesting via e-QUEST please state "suspected intrauterine infection" and give clinical details including gestational age and any relevant exposures.
|
|
Toxocara serology
[e-QUEST: Toxocara reference test]
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
Reference
|
28 days
|
|
|
Toxoplasma serology (past exposure)
[e-QUEST: Toxoplasma IgG]
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
SGH
|
1-2 days
|
Please state if patient is pregnant.
|
|
Toxoplasma serology (acute/ current/ recent infection)
[e-QUEST: Toxoplasma IgM]
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
SGH
|
1-2 days
|
Please state date of onset/ exposure.
Please state if patient is pregnant.
|
|
Toxoplasma PCR
|
Discuss with Virologist/ Microbiologist
|
|
Trichinella serology
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
Reference
|
28 days
|
|
|
Trypanosomiasis serology (Chagas' disease/ Sleeping sickness)
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
Reference
|
28 days
|
Send blood films for diagnosis of acute infection.
|
|
Tularaemia (Fransicella tularensis) serology
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
Reference
|
5 days
|
Requires prior discussion with a microbiologist
|
|
Typhus serology
|
See under Rickettsial serology
|