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Infection Sciences Test Sample Quick Guide

Checked: 06-09-2024 by Vicky Ryan Next Review: 06-09-2026

Overview

Please see this quick reference guide for commonly sent samples from primary care. This guide applies to all infection samples sent from primary care in BNSSG. The samples are all processed at NBT.

As part of Infection sciences commitment to improve patient care and environmental sustainability we are reducing rejected specimens. Many rejected specimens are due to incorrect specimen container. This could result in a delay in diagnosis and treatment for patients and leads to unnecessary waste and transport costs.

Sending samples

Please ensure samples are submitted with the following:

Correct identifiers - All samples should be correctly identified with NHS Number/Hospital Number, DoB, Name and site of sampling or specimen type.
Clinical details - clinical details should be provided including any history of FOREIGN TRAVEL*, antimicrobial therapy, date and duration of illness.
Risks - possible risks should be included on all requests (including foreign travel) irrespective of test requested. This information is essential to ensure that the correct laboratory precautions are undertaken when processing specimens.
*Foreign Travel - please include details of foreign travel even if not prompted to do so. This is because there have been a number of incidents over the years where specimens have been processed with the incorrect safety precautions resulting in the lab staff being at risk.
Bags - Ideally samples should be sent in the correctly coloured bags - Blue for infection sciences. This helps to ensure specimens get to the correct lab. Please ensure samples and bags are not leaking.
Barcode labels - For electronically requested specimens attach barcode labels over the tube label, with top of the barcode placed directly below the tube lid. See example below

Viral Nose and Throat Swabs/Vesicles/Eyes/Genital lesions/M pox		Any of the following tubes may be used Red top Copan tube Purple top Copan tube White top Copan tube Green top Copan
Urine MC&S if >2mls		Boric Acid container Olive Green/Red
Urine MC&S if < 2mls ie paediatric samples		White top universal containers NB if sample is >2mls this will be rejected by the laboratory
Bordatella Pertussis Pernasal Swab for PCR/ MC&S		Orange lidded minitip sigma transwabs Please UKHSA for advice of testing Pertussis: guidelines for public health management - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Bordatella Pertussis Pernasal Swab for PCR only		green top swab orange and purple Please UKHSA for advice of testing Pertussis: guidelines for public health management - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Swab for bacterial/candida culture ears/eyes/wounds/ nose/ throat/ high vaginal/lower vaginal/cervical/self taken (for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea and Trichomonas NAATS send APTIMA tube)		purple top liquid swab
Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea and( Trichomonas by special request only)NAATS swab Vaginal/Eye		Aptima (use Vaginal) Swab
Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea NAATS urine		preferred sample for males please do not under/overfill SAMPLE SHOULD BE IN BETWEEN THE TWO BLACK LINES
Stool Bacterial PCR Giardia and Cryptosporidium C difficile PCR Viral Gastroenteritis and Norovirus PCR Ova cysts and parasites (OCP) H pylori antigen		blue topped with a scoop minimum ⅓ full ideally separate samples for each ICE request sticker If sending for OCP send 3 samples post dated request with different days otherwise these will be rejected by the lab
Blood for Bacterial/Viral Serology eg Lyme/CMV/EBV/Hepatitis/HIV/Varicella Zoster/ Measles		Gold top
Blood for viral PCR eg CMV/EBV/ HIV Viral load, Hepatitis B, C		Purple EDTA tube
Mumps (oral fluid IgM PCR) Acute cases only. For immunity testing please see Viral Serology above		ALL suspected MUMPS CASES SHOULD BE DISCUSSED with UKHSA PRIOR TO TESTING Oral fluid testing -please contact UKHSA to request a kit 0300 3038162 If wanting to test in clinic please discuss with Virology (after discussing with UKHSA) at Severn infection sciences to avoid delay
Measles		ALL SUSPECTED MEASLES CASES SHOULD BE DISCUSSED WITH UKHSA PRIOR TO TESTING Oral fluid testing-please contact UKHSA to request a kit 0300 3038162 If wanting to test in clinic please discuss first with UKHSA to risk assess
MRSA screen swab		purple top sigma trans swab If needing to screen urine send boric acid container
Sputum MC&S		universal white top container
Threadworm/Enterobius Kit		Send if diagnostic uncertainty or treatment resistant cases to confirm diagnosis. Kit can be requested from pathology see above
Fungal skin/nail scraping for microscopy and culture		Mycology collection kit

Contacts and further resources

To request testing kits and tubes please contact: pathologyconsumablessouthmead@nbt.nhs.uk

For any other queries or suggestions for improvements relating to the below please email: microbiology@nbt.nhs.uk

For a full list of Pathology testing repertoire including turnaround times please see
Test Information | North Bristol NHS Trust (nbt.nhs.uk)

Efforts are made to ensure the accuracy and agreement of these guidelines, including any content uploaded, referred to or linked to from the system. However, BNSSG ICB cannot guarantee this. This guidance does not override the individual responsibility of healthcare professionals to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or guardian or carer, in accordance with the mental capacity act, and informed by the summary of product characteristics of any drugs they are considering. Practitioners are required to perform their duties in accordance with the law and their regulators and nothing in this guidance should be interpreted in a way that would be inconsistent with compliance with those duties.

Information provided through Remedy is continually updated so please be aware any printed copies may quickly become out of date.