Microbiology
Microbiology deals with diseases caused by infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Microbiologists have roles both in the laboratory and directly in patient care. It offers involvement in a spectrum of activities ranging across:
- basic laboratory science
- direct patient care
- public health
- infection control
- research and teaching
- business management
The last two decades have seen enormous change in Medical Microbiology. ‘New’ organisms (Helicobacter pylori, HIV, Hepatitis C virus) have been discovered and characterised. ‘New’ infectious diseases (AIDS, Lyme disease and Legionnaires’ disease) have been described. ‘Old’ infections (tuberculosis, malaria, and pertussis)have re-emerged as major threats and have become increasingly resistant to previously effective antibiotics (MRSA, Streptococcus pneumoniae, VRE).
Over this time, advances in technology and molecular medicine (automation, polymerase chain reaction) have added greatly to the Microbiologist’s diagnostic armamentarium. At the same time however, Microbiology remains very much a ‘hands-on’ discipline. In many ways it is an art as much as a science, and one in which an individual pathologist’s experience, judgment and interpretive skills are pivotal.
Clinical aspects involve control of outbreaks of infectious disease and dealing with the problems of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Bacterial Serotyping
Lyophilised sample – 1 mL supplied for Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus species, Neisseria meningitidis.
Frequency / Number of samples
4 surveys / 6 samples per survey
Tests
Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus species, Neisseria meningitidis
Product details last updated on August 1, 2019
Bacteriology
Lyophilised sample – 1 mL supplied for the tests listed below:
- Difficult/Blood Culture Isolates
- Faecal Pathogens
- Genital Swabs
- Mycobacteriology Culture
- Nose/Throat Pathogens
- Respiratory Pathogens
- Skin/Eye/Ear Pathogens
- Wound Anaerobes
- Lyophilised sample – 1 mL or 5mL supplied for the tests listed below:
- Urine
- Unstained smear on glass slide supplied for the test listed below:
- Mycobacteriology Acid Fast Smears
Frequency / Number of samples
1-2 samples per survey / 4 surveys per year except for
Difficult/Blood Culture Isolates: 1 sample per survey / 8 surveys per year
Tests
Difficult/Blood Culture Isolates; Faecal Pathogens; Genital Swabs; Mycobacteriology Acid Fast Smears; Mycobacteriology Culture; Nose/Throat Pathogens; Respiratory Pathogens; Skin/Eye/Ear Pathogens; Urine; Wound Anaerobes
Product details last updated on August 1, 2019
Clostridium difficile Laboratory Detection
Lyophilised sample – 2 mL for the detection of Clostridium difficile – culture, antigen and toxin.
Frequency / Number of samples
2 surveys / 4 samples per survey
Tests
Detection of Clostridium difficile antigen and toxin by phenotypic and molecular methods.
Product details last updated on August 1, 2019
Endoscopes/Bronchoscopes Surveillance Culture
Lyophilised sample – 1 mL supplied – Microbiological Surveillance culture for endoscopes and bronchoscopes.
Frequency / Number of samples
2 surveys / 6 samples per survey
Tests
Microbiological Surveillance Culture for endoscopes and bronchoscopes
Product details last updated on August 1, 2019
Molecular Infectious Diseases – Alphavirus & Flavivirus NAT
Simulated clinical material provided to assess the detection and identification of Alphaviruses and Flaviviruses using molecular assays.
Inactivated viral culture lysate* – 0.25 mL supplied
Frequency / Number of samples
2 surveys / 6 samples per survey
Tests
Alphavirus Group, Barmah Forest virus, Chikungunya virus, Ross River virus, Sindbis virus, Flavivirus Group, Dengue virus, Japanese Encephalitis virus, Kunjin virus, Murray Valley Encephalitis virus, Yellow Fever virus, West Nile virus, Zika virus
* Dispatched on dry ice
Product details last updated on August 5, 2019
Molecular Infectious Diseases – Bordetella pertussis
Simulated clinical material provided to assess the detection of Bordetella pertussis using molecular assays
Lyophilised sample – 1 mL supplied.
Frequency / Number of samples
2 surveys / 6 samples per survey
Tests
Bordetella pertussis
Product details last updated on July 29, 2019
Molecular Infectious Diseases – Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Simulated clinical material provided to assess the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae using molecular assays.
Lyophilised sample – 5 mL supplied.
Frequency / Number of samples
2 surveys / 6 samples per survey
Tests
Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Product details last updated on July 29, 2019
Molecular Infectious Diseases – Cytomegalovirus (Qualitative/ Quantitative)
Simulated clinical material provided to assess the qualitative and quantitative detection of CMV using molecular assays.
Lyophilised sample – 1 mL supplied.
Frequency / Number of samples
2 surveys / 6 samples per survey
Tests
Cytomegalovirus (Qualitative/ Quantitative)
Product details last updated on July 29, 2019
Molecular Infectious Diseases – Enterovirus
Simulated clinical material provided to assess the detection of Enteroviruses including Parechovirus using molecular assays.
Lyophilised sample – 1 mL supplied.
Frequency / Number of samples
2 surveys / 6 samples per survey
Tests
Enterovirus
Product details last updated on August 5, 2019
Molecular Infectious Diseases – Gastrointestinal Pathogens (Bacteria)
Simulated clinical material provided to assess the detection of gastrointestinal bacterial pathogens using molecular assays.
Lyophilised sample – 1 mL supplied.
Frequency / Number of samples
2 surveys / 6 samples per survey
Tests
Multiplex Assays, Aeromonas hydrophila Campylobacter sp, Escherichia coli O157, Salmonella sp, Shigella sp, Vibrio sp, Yersinia sp
Product details last updated on August 5, 2019
Molecular Infectious Diseases – Gastrointestinal Pathogens (Parasites)
Simulated clinical material provided to assess the detection of Gastrointestinal Parasite Pathogens using molecular assays.
Liquid sample – 1 mL supplied.
Frequency / Number of samples
2 surveys / 6 samples per survey
Tests
Multiplex Assays, Blastocystis hominis, Cryptosporidium sp, Dientamoeba fragilis, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia sp
Product details last updated on July 29, 2019
Molecular Infectious Diseases – Gastrointestinal Pathogens (Viral)
Simulated clinical material provided to assess the detection of Gastrointestinal Viral Pathogens using molecular assays
Inactivated viral culture lysate – 0.5 mL supplied
Frequency / Number of samples
2 surveys / 6 samples per survey
Tests
Multiplex Assays, Adenovirus, Astrovirus, Norovirus, Rotavirus, Sapovirus
Product details last updated on August 5, 2019
