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Virology is an expanding discipline with newly discovered viruses, greatly improved tests, new antivirals and novel vaccines. We are committed to improving clinical virological provision to patients both in hospitals and in primary care. After all, viruses are one of the commonest reasons for visiting a general practitioner and cause much morbidity and mortality. The primary aim of the Network is to provide a modern and comprehensive virology service, with equality of service provision across the UK. This will be achieved by co-ordination of clinical protocols and algorithms, sharing of any information on test performance, regular scientific meetings and pooling of intellectual resources. It is also hoped eventually to co-ordinate purchasing for laboratories within the Network. Another primary aim is to provide excellent epidemiological services to inform the public health and government bodies including the Health Protection Agency, Departments of Health and Public Health Laboratories. A third aim is to co-ordinate and improve training of clinical virologists, whether they have a medical, scientific or technical background.
The UK CVN aims to work as both a managed clinical network and as a local area network. The Specialist Virology Centres (SVC), each of which is located in an academic centre, will act as the driving force for service and epidemiological provision of virology in that area. Specialist Virology Units (SVU) are smaller laboratories with a specialist virological expertise which do not provide as wide a range of services as the SVCs.Some SVU may be located in District General Hospitals initially; however the aim is to provide support to units so they can eventually become centres.The UK CVN believes it is critical to work closely with district general hospital microbiology laboratories to provide a cost-effective and evidence based virological service across the entire area. This will be co-ordinated by Area Virological Committees.
Specialist Virology Centres & Units:
Aberdeen
Belfast
Birmingham
Bristol
Cambridge
Cardiff
Coventry
Dublin
Dundee
Edinburgh
Epsom
Glasgow
Hull
Inverness
Leeds
Liverpool
London East (Royal London/Barts)
London North Royal Free
London North UCLH
London South (St George's campus)
London South (St Thomas’ campus)
London South (King's campus & Health Protection Agency)
London West
Manchester
Newcastle
Norwich
Nottingham
Plymouth
Preston
Reading
Sheffield
Southampton/Portsmouth
Sunderland
Swansea
Health Protection Agency (HPA):
Department for Evaluations, Standards and Training (DEST)
Quality Assurance
Special Pathogens Reference Unit, Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Porton
Varicella Zoster Virus Reference Service
Virus Reference Department, Centre for Infections, London
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The Network will consist of a linked and co-ordinated group of laboratories and clinical virologists distributed in all major centres throughout the UK and Ireland performing modern and quality assured assays. It will provide evidence-based and practical virological advice to the CMOs, Health Protection Agency and other national bodies on all aspects of viral diseases. There will be a close relationship with bacteriology laboratories. The Network will ensure there is a uniform approach to surveillance, a rapid but considered response to virological emergencies, centrally agreed protocols for the management of viral diseases and will ensure the establishment of best laboratory practice.
For more detailed information please click on the links below:
Setting up UK Clinical Virology Network (2001)
A National Strategy for Clinical Virology in the UK (2001) - The Formation of the UK CVN (PDF 458k)
Constitution of the UK Clinical Virology Network (PDF 120k)
NB. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to read pdf files.If you don't have a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader it can be downloaded by following the link below.
The National Structure of the UK CVN - A collaborative clinical network
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Flow of virological samples & requests within a local pathology network
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Notes:
a. Some DGH will be SVU
b. In some areas, there will not be an SVC immediately: consequently specimens will be referred to an SVU
c. Some public health/epidemology samples of a highly specialist nature will be referred directly to a CVNRL
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UK CVN Committee Membership
The committee provides the strategic direction of the network. It has taken on the role of the PHLS Virology Advisory Committee and continues to advise the PHLS and its successor on all matters virological. It is composed of the following members:
Bill Carman (w.carman@vir.gla.ac.uk) - Co-chairman
Mark Zuckerman1 (mark.zuckerman@kch.nhs.uk) - Co-chairman
David Brown (David.Brown@HPA.org.uk) - Treasurer
Celia Aitken (celia.aitken@ggc.scot.nhs) - RCPath Virology Sub Committee chair
Tim Wregghit (tim.wreghitt@addenbrookes.nhs.uk) - Clinical Scientist Representative
Ian Phillips (Ian.Phillips@nphs.wales.nhs.uk) - BMS representative
Tony Oliver (Tony.Oliver@bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk) - BMS representative
John Bagshaw (John.Bagshaw@eu.biomerieux.com) - Commercial representative
William Irving (Will.Irving@nottingham.ac.uk) - Academic virology representative
Goura Kudesia2 (Goura.Kudesia@sth.nhs.uk) - CATT chair
Joy Kean (joy.kean@ggc.scot.nhs.uk) - CVN Scientific Coordinator
Malur Sudhanva (msudhanva@nhs.net) - Webmaster
1RCPath chief examiner in virology
2RCPath chair of College Advisory Training Team (CATT) in Medical Microbiology and Virology
Please direct enquiries to Joy Kean (Joy.Kean@ggc.scot.nhs.uk)
In addition, since 2008, there is UK CVN website working group which oversees the updating and maintenance of this website. This working group includes Malur Sudhanva, Malcolm Goodwin, Samuel Moses, Mohammed Raza, Joel Paul, Eleni Nastouli, Jaisi Sinha, Manoj Valappil, Sandeep Ramalingam and Joy Kean.
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