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Location of laboratory
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London South - South London Specialist Virology Centre at Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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Name and postal address of the laboratory
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South London Specialist Virology Centre
Health Protection Agency London Regional Laboratory
Kings College NHS Foundation Trust
2nd floor (opp Liver ITU), Cheyne Wing, Bessemer Road
Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS
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Telephone number for enquiries & fax number
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Enquiries: +44 203 299 6155 / 6156
Clinical Advice Tel: 020 3299 6298
Specimen Reception: 020 3299 6214/6050
Medical secretary: +44 203 299 6296
Fax: +44 203 299 6477
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DX address
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South London (PHL) King’s
DX No. 657 0200
Peckham 90 SE
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What do we do?
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Virus Identification Section
This section comprises of virus isolation and molecular diagnostics.
Virus isolation is now rudimentary and we no longer provide routine virus isolation service. An on-call direct immunofluorescence (DIF) is still provided, however it is not a routine service. Samples for electron microscopy (EM) are referred to another laboratory only if needed.
Molecular diagnostics use real time PCR (Rotor-Gene and LightCycler) for the detection of viral nucleic acid in clinical samples. Nucleic acid tests performed routinely are for the detection and quantification of HIV-1 RNA, CMV DNA and EBV DNA, qualitative detection of avian influenza virus A H5N1, HSV DNA, VZV DNA, adenovirus DNA, enterovirus RNA, HCV RNA (quantitative) and C.trachomatis & N gonorrhoeae nucleic acid. Norovirus RNA testing of stool samples is also by PCR.
Multiplex PCRs are available for the following viruses as routine testing of all respiratory samples along with stand alone adenovirus DNA testing:-
multiplex 1 : influenza A virus, influenza B virus and human metapneumovirus,
multiplex 2 : RSV subgroup A and B, rhinovirus
multiplex 3 : parainfluenza viruses 1, 2 and 3.
Antiretroviral resistance testing by nucleic acid sequencing and HBV DNA sequencing for resistance testing are also provided.
Virus serology
The virus serology section detects antibodies to viruses and viral antigens in serum using manual and automated assays. In addition, few bacterial antibodies are also detected in this section. Automated machines include TECAN, AXSym, VIDAS and ETIMAX.
KingsPath http://www.kingspath.co.uk/
HPA Regional Laboratory is also part of KingsPath, which is the Clinical Diagnostic Pathology Service at King's College Hospital (www.kch.nhs.uk). KingsPath has now come to an end of a major re-development programme which has seen the investment of £8m in our pathology service. This includes investment in a state-of-the-art Blood Sciences Laboratory. The Blood Sciences Laboratory, completed in October 2006, is one of the largest, integrated, automated laboratories in Europe, ensuring KingsPath remains at the forefront of developments in Pathology. Since Dec 2007, the following tests on blood are being carried out by Blood Sciences Laboratory; rubella virus IgG and IgM, hepatitis A virus total antibody and IgM, HBs antibody level, hepatitis B core total antibody and hepatitis C virus antibody.
Research
There are collaborations between clinical research groups and academic partners at Guy's, King's, and St Thomas' School of Medicine, the Institute of Psychiatry, The School of Nursing and Midwifery, King's College London and King's Division of Biomedical Sciences.
The Principal Clinical Scientist, Dr Melvyn Smith along with grade B Scientist Dr Andrea Szendroi, manage the molecular diagnostic section for virology (along with the BMS staff). Dr M Smith supervises projects carried out by biomedical scientists and other clinical scientists in virology together with specialist registrars in both departments. They are involved in a variety of projects, many of which have resulted in technology transfer to the routine diagnostic service. Work carried out in the departments has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and presented at local, national and international meetings.
The development of real-time polymerase chain reaction assays were using the Corbett Rotor-Gene and Roche LightCycler. In particular, assays have been developed for quantitative CMV DNA and adenovirus DNA, EBV DNA quantification, norovirus RNA and the detection and typing of HSV types 1 and 2 DNA. Multiplex assays are used to detect a range of respiratory pathogens, including influenza A and B viruses, RSV subtype A and B, human metapneumovirus, human rhinovirus and parainfluenza 1, 2 & 3 viruses. New assays includes hepatitis B virus detection and sequencing, in order to determine any HBV drug resistance mutations present. HIV-1 subtype analysis of the local HIV infected cohort using in-house sequencing methods and comparisons of HIV-1 RNA assays has also been carried out. As part of a collaborative PhD project with the Institute of Liver Studies, we are also developing DNA arrays and flow cytometry methods to investigate the natural history of EBV infection, particularly related to paediatric liver transplant recipients. The laboratory is also involved in a number of anonymised serological surveys.
We are also one of only 12 laboratories in UK accredited to carry out avian influenza A virus H5N1 testing.
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Out of hours’ service
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Urgent/out of hours requests in virology
An on-call service is provided by the Virology from 5pm to 9am Monday to Friday, all day Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays. To arrange for samples to be sent to virology (especially for transplant donor screening and renal dialysis patients) please contact the King’s College Hospital switchboard (0203 299 9000) and ask for the on call biomedical scientist.
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Turn around time
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2 hours |
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2 hours |
Hepatitis B surface antigen
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2 hours |
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Hepatitis B core total antibody
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5 - 10 ml clotted blood
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2 hours |
| Hepatitis B core IgM antibody |
5 - 10 ml clotted blood |
2 hours |
| Hepatitis B surface antibody |
5 - 10 ml clotted blood |
2 hours |
| Hepatitis C virus antibody |
5 - 10 ml clotted blood |
2 hours |
| HTLV I / II |
5 - 10 ml clotted blood |
3 hours |
| CMV IgG antibody |
5 - 10 ml clotted blood |
2 hours |
| Measles virus IgG |
5 - 10 ml clotted blood |
3 hours |
| Respiratory virus detection by DIF |
5 - 10 ml clotted blood |
2 hours |
| Avian influenza A H5N1 PCR |
Combined throat and nasal swab |
4 hours |
Other tests can be carried out after discussion with one of the medical virologists.
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This page was updated on
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25/02/2009 |
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