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Location of laboratory
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Southampton
Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, Hampshire
Portsmouth
Department of Clinical Microbiology (HPA Collaborating Laboratory)
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Name and postal address of the laboratory
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Southampton
Health Protection Agency, Southeast Region Laboratory,
Department of Microbiology and Virology
South Block
Southampton General Hospital
Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD
Portsmouth
Pathology Centre
Queen Alexandra Hospital
Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3LY
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DX address
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Southampton
HPA Southeast
DX 6880300
Southampton 90 SO
Portsmouth
Portsmouth Microbiology Laboratory
DX 6882700
Cosham (Portsmouth) 91 PO
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Telephone number for enquiries & fax number
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Southampton
Tel: 023 8079 6408
Fax: 023 8070 2530
Portsmouth
Tel: 02392 286201
Fax: 02392 388395
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What do we do?
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Diagnostic Assays
Virus Isolation and Direct Immunofluorescence
Virus isolation in cell culture and direct immunofluorescence for the detection of respiratory and herpes viruses are currently still performed in the Portsmouth laboratory but have been discontinued and replaced by molecular tests in Southampton.
Molecular diagnosis
In Southampton the molecular diagnostics laboratory uses real time PCR (Lightcycler 480, Lightcycler 2.0, ABI 7900 and Rotorgene) for the detection of viral and bacterial nucleic acids in clinical samples. Tests are routinely performed for the detection of the following pathogens: HSV, VZV, CMV, EBV, Adenoviruses, Lyme borreliosis, Meningococci, Enteroviruses, C.trachomatis, .HBV, HCV, HIV, Respiratory viruses (see below) and noroviruses.
Quantitative assays are available for HCV RNA, HBV DNA and multiplex EBV/CMV DNA. The quantification of HIV-1 RNA is performed by the Nasba EasyQ assay.
Norovirus RNA testing of stool samples is carried out for the Southeast region
&Mac183; Multiplex PCRs are available for the following respiratory viruses (along with monoplex PCR for Adenovirus detection):
Multiplex 1: Influenza A virus, Influenza B virus
Multiplex 2: RSV subgroup A and B
Multiplex 3: Parainfluenza 1, 2 and 3
A 24-hour on-call service is provided for H5N1 avian influenza testing for the Southeast region.
In Portsmouth, hepatitis C PCR and HIV viral load are performed using the Roche Cobas. The Becton Dickinson ProbeTecET Strand Displacement Assay is used for the detection of C trachomatis and N gonorrhoeae.
It is anticipated that the Portsmouth laboratory will be routinely performing molecular diagnostic testing for the detection of respiratory and herpes viruses in the near future
Serology
Both laboratories offer an extensive range of screening and diagnostic serology tests. The Portsmouth laboratory performs complement fixation tests for the neighbouring trusts and Southampton has the national Lyme reference laboratory.
R&D
Southampton
Clinical Scientists Dr. Peter Marsh and Dr. Steve Green have undertaken a number of collaborative projects with different clinical research groups and academic partners both at Southampton University Hospitals Trust (SUHT) and at the University of Southampton; additionally they also work together with Kings College London and CEPR. In particular, Dr. Marsh has established an important collaborative relationship with Professor Ian Clarke of The University of Southampton, currently including an MRC-funded project for the development of high resolution genotyping of Chlamydia trachomatis, leading to detailed study of genome evolution and diversification.
Dr Marsh and Dr Green are also involved in the supervision of BMS M.Sc. projects, of which there have been successful outcomes resulting in the development and validation of several molecular diagnostic assays (see above).
Although presently largely engaged in bacteriological research, Drs. Marsh & Green have run virology research projects in the past, and are currently developing (in collaboration with Dr. Emanuela Pelosi) an agenda for research projects in virology.
The laboratory (National reference centre for the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis) has funding for the development of a high-resolution genotyping method for Lyme borreliosis, in partnership with Dr. Susan O’Connell, leading expert on tick – borne diseases.
We are also developing a panel of multiplex real-time PCR assays for paediatric bone & joint infections, and neonatal sepsis, as well as an assay for the detection of intact/viable cells of the Burkholderia cepacia complex in cystic fibrosis patient sputum.
Portsmouth
The main research interest in recent years has been on the diagnosis and screening for C trachomatis. The department has participated in a number of Department of Health funded large research projects which have contributed to the development of the national chlamydia screening programme.
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Out of hours’ service
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Southampton provides an out of routine hours HIV testing service on site for urgent samples.
Portsmouth provides a full out of hours organ donor and recipient screening service for the Wessex renal transplant unit The laboratory also provides out of hours urgent testing for HIV, HBV and HCV for the management of sharps injuries and other clinical emergencies.
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This page was updated on
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08/10/2008 |
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