|
Test
|
Specimen
|
Container
|
Required volume
|
Laboratory
|
Turnaround time
|
Additional information
|
|
Urine antigens (Pneumococcus/ Legionella)
|
Urine
|
Sterile Universal
|
10 –20ml
|
SGH
|
1-2 days
|
Needs prior authorization by a microbiologist.
|
|
Urine MC&S (MSU, CSU, Clean-catch, Bag Urine, Supra-pubic aspiration)
[e-QUEST: Urine MC&S]
Specimens will be rejected if there are inadequate clinical details.
|
Urine
|
Sterile Universal
|
10 –20ml
|
SGH
|
1-2 days
|
Specimens are rejected if >24 hrs as sub optimal for the isolation of organisms. They may be refridgerated overnight but not on Fridays, unless there is a Saturday collection.
|
|
Vaginal swabs MC&S
(HVS/ LVS)
|
Swab in Amies transport medium with charcoal.
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
SGH
|
2-3 days
|
|
|
Vancomycin levels
|
See under Antibiotic Assays
|
|
Varicella zoster (VZV) IgG
[e-QUEST: Varicella zoster IgG]
Not for diagnosis of acute infection- send vesicle fluid for isolation/ PCR.
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
SGH
|
1-2 days
|
Please state if the patient is pregnant and exposed to VZV as will need urgent testing
|
|
Varicella zoster (VZV) PCR (chickenpox/ shingles)
[e-QUEST: Varicella zoster PCR]
|
CSF
|
Sterile Universal
|
2 ml
|
SGH
|
1-2 days
|
|
|
Blood
|
EDTA blood
|
2 ml
|
|
Lesion/ Vesicle Swab
|
Swab in Viral Transport Medium
|
N/A
|
|
Vesicle fluid
|
Capillary tube
|
Min 200µl
|
|
Vascular access device tips
[e-QUEST: CVP/ Hickman/ cannula/ peripheral lines/ vascath etc]
|
Device
|
Sterile Universal
|
N/A
|
SGH
|
2-3 days
|
Will NOT be processed routinely.
Only where line sepsis is suspected.
|
|
VDRL slide test
[e-QUEST:Syphilis antibody (blood)]
OR
[e-QUEST:Syphilis antibody (CSF)]
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
SGH |
4 days
|
|
|
CSF
|
Sterile Universal
|
|
Vibrio cholerae & other species.
|
Faeces
|
Universal 30ml faecal pot
|
1-2gm
|
SGH
|
2-3 days
|
Please give travel history
|
|
Viral eye swabs
[e-QUEST:Viral eye swab]
HSV and Adenovirus PCR
|
Eye swab in VTM
|
Swab in Viral Transport Medium
|
N/A |
SGH
|
1-2 days |
|
|
Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers (VHF)
|
Discuss with a Virologist/ Microbiologist urgently
|
|
Viral meningo-encephalitis studies
[e-QUEST: Viral Menigitis/enceph.]
Includes:
HSV, Enterovirus and Meningococcal PCR
|
CSF
|
Sterile Universal
|
2 ml
|
SGH
|
1-2 days
|
Please give date of onset and any travel history.
|
|
Viral swabs (genital/ lesions/ vesicles)
|
Lesion swab
|
Swab in Viral Transport Medium
|
|
SGH
|
1-2 days |
Give full clinical details.
|
|
Vitreal biopsies/ tap
|
Vitreous fluid
|
|
|
SGH
|
2 days |
Please state clearly if fungal infection suspected.
|
| VRE screen |
Rectal swab |
Sterile swab in Amies transport medium |
N/A |
SGH |
2 days for negative, 3 days for presumptive positive |
Specimens are rejected if >48 hrs as sub optimal for the isolation or organism (patients from intestinal failure unit) |
|
Weil's disease
|
See under Leptospirosis
|
|
West Nile virus
|
Please discuss with virology
|
|
Whipples PCR
|
Please discuss with microbiology
|
|
Whipworm (Trichuris trichiura)
|
See under Faecal Parasitology/ OCP
|
|
Wound swab for MC&S
(Do not request for MRSA unless sending screening swabs)
[e-QUEST: Wound/ear/nose/throat]
|
Swab in Amies transport medium with charcoal.
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
SGH
|
2-3 days
|
Specimens are rejected if >48 hrs as sub optimal for the isolation or organisms. May be stored overnight at room temperature if necessary.
|
|
Yellow fever virus serology
|
See under Arboviral serology. Discuss with a virologist.
|
|
Yersinia pestis isolation
(plague)
|
Discuss with a microbiologist urgently
|
|
Yersinia serology
[e-QUEST: Yersinia reference test]
|
Blood (serum)
|
Clotted Blood (red top tube)
|
5-10 ml
|
Reference
|
14 days
|
|
|
Ziehl-Nielsen (ZN) stain
|
See under Mycobacteria.
|