folded square of paper preferably fastened with a paper clip, but commercial packs are also available (e.g. It is easier to see affected hairs on white paper rather than black. ‘Mycotrans’). Medical indications and Serology test requesting guide For a serological diagnosis, acute (as early as possible in the illness) and convalescent sera (10-14 weeks after onset) may need to be taken for for demonstrating seroconversion or rising titres. Virus specific Ig M tests may be done on a single specimen of serum for the diagnosis of acute infections for example Hepatitis A. IgM is usually positive 5 days post onset. A general request for screen” or virology” or screen” can NOT be processed without N.B. “Viral “routine “atypical accompanying clinical information. The following Guide” may assist in identifying possible viruses/agents involved. This guide is derived “Requesting from guidelines issued by the National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL), Dublin. More detailed information is available on the NVRLwebsite * These specimens/ samples are referred to external laboratory for testing (PTWIP) Phoned to ward if positive and/ or significant ** NOTE: If sample needs to be sent to referral Lab for supplemental/ confirmatory testing Turnaround Time will be longer. Days are expressed as Calendar days. Tests to be ordered Provisional Diagnosis/ Possible Virus/ Agent/ Specimen Type Symptoms Disease Mycoplasma pneumoniae Coxiella burnetti (Q fever) Serum/ Clotted Blood Chlamydia Group Legionella pneumophilia Urine (Urinary Antigen) Respiratory Infection Influenza A** Throat swab in viral URTI and LRTI Influenza B** transport media Respiratory Syncital virus Nasopharyngeal (RSV)* Aspirate (NPA) or Parainfluenza* sputum Adenovirus* Rubella virus* Arthralgia Serum/ Clotted Blood Parvovirus B19*
folded square of paper preferably fastened with a paper clip, but commercial packs are also available (e.g. ‘Mycotrans’). It is easier to see affected hairs on white paper rather than black. Medical indications and Serology test requesting guide For a serological diagnosis, acute (as early as possible in the illness) and convalescent sera (10-14 weeks after onset) may need to be taken for for demonstrating seroconversion or rising titres. Virus specific Ig M tests may be done on a single specimen of serum for the diagnosis of acute infections for example Hepatitis A. IgM is usually positive 5 days post onset. N.B. A general request for “Viral screen” or “routine virology” or “atypical screen” can NOT be processed without accompanying clinical information. The following “Requesting Guide” may assist in identifying possible viruses/agents involved. This guide is derived from guidelines issued by the National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL), Dublin. More detailed information is available on the NVRLwebsite * These specimens/ samples are referred to external laboratory for testing (PTWIP) Phoned to ward if positive and/ or significant ** NOTE: If sample needs to be sent to referral Lab for supplemental/ confirmatory testing Turnaround Time will be longer. Days are expressed as Calendar days. Provisional Diagnosis/ Symptoms Tests to be ordered Specimen Type Possible Virus/ Agent/ Disease Respiratory Infection URTI and LRTI Mycoplasma pneumoniae Coxiella burnetti (Q fever) Chlamydia Group Serum/ Clotted Blood Legionella pneumophilia (Urinary Antigen) Urine Influenza A** Influenza B** Throat swab in viral transport media Respiratory Syncital virus (RSV)* Parainfluenza* Adenovirus* Nasopharyngeal Aspirate (NPA) or sputum Arthralgia Rubella virus* Parvovirus B19* Serum/ Clotted Blood
pathology-user-handbook-2018-revision-12.docx