Uned Gyfeirio Cryptosporidium

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• Specimen submission form

• MLVA assay protocol

Contact us

Cryptosporidium Reference Unit
Public Health Wales Microbiology
Singleton Hospital
Sgeti
Swansea
SA2 8QA

Public Health Wales Microbiology
DX 6070309
Swansea 90 SA

Tel: 01792 285341 (for results, consultation and advice during office hours)
Out of hours tel: 01792 205666 (ask for on-call consultant microbiologist)
Email: [email protected]
Laboratory hours: 08:45 to 17:00 (Monday to Friday)

Staff

• Consultant Clinical Scientist and Head of Unit: Professor Rachel Chalmers
• Principal Clinical Scientists: Dr Kristin Elwin and Dr Guy Robinson
• Consultant Medical Microbiologist: Dr Angharad Davies
• Biomedical Scientist: David Cooper LIBMS

• Consultant Clinical Scientist and Head of Unit: Professor Rachel Chalmers
• Principal Clinical Scientists: Dr Kristin Elwin and Dr Guy Robinson
• Consultant Medical Microbiologist: Dr Angharad Davies
• Biomedical Scientist: David Cooper LIBMS
• Supported by a Research Scientist and a Biomedical Support Worker

Core reference services and guide to investigations

• Differential diagnosis and confirmation of referred isolates of Cryptosporidium,
• Specialist testing for the detection of Cryptosporidium in immunocompromised patients at high risk
• Typing of referred isolates to support outbreak/cluster investigations and for epidemiological surveillance
• Evaluation of new laboratory methods for Cryptosporidium
• Provision of positive control and training materials
• Consultation advice on diagnostic methods and management of cryptosporidiosis
• Advice on the investigation, epidemiology, control and prevention of Cryptosporidium
• R&D activities in relation to our reference functions

Table: Guide to investigations

Investigation	Samples required	Tests performed	Turnaround time (depends on complexity and current workload)
Investigation Confirmation	Samples required Stool DNA (min 20µl) – by prior arrangement	Tests performed Microscopy PCR	Turnaround time (depends on complexity and current workload) 2 working days
Investigation Specialist testing of immunocompromised patients at high risk from Cryptosporidium	Samples required Stool (minimum 2 scoops) Other specimen types as indicated	Tests performed Microscopy (including immunofluorescence) PCR-based tests	Turnaround time (depends on complexity and current workload) Positive findings will be reported within the next working day PCR offered weekly
Investigation Typing of Cryptosporidium1 isolates (species/genotype) for epidemiological purposes and for the investigation of clusters/outbreaks Further characterisation is at the discretion of the Unit Head or following consultation	Samples required Cryptosporidium- positive stools (minimum 2 scoops, ideally without preservative but if formalin has been added, this should be noted on the form) DNA (min 20µl) – by prior arrangement	Tests performed PCR-based tests	Turnaround time (depends on complexity and current workload) 5-10 working days (may be reduced during outbreak investigations)
Investigation Typing from Cryptosporidium-positive water and environmental slides	Samples required Please see our water and environmental services webpage for details	Tests performed	Turnaround time (depends on complexity and current workload)

1. In Wales, Giardia genotyping is also undertaken but may have a longer turnaround time. ↩︎

How to obtain services

Use the Cryptosporidium Reference Unit form.

For Giardia please use the form supplied by the reference unit.

Sample transportation

• Samples should be sent in packaging appropriate to current legislation, accompanied by a referral form (available to download above) detailing putative diagnosis, patient or sample details and relevant (clinical) history.
• Send either by Royal Mail, HAYSDX or other Courier Services.
• Cryptosporidium positive stools for typing may be batched prior to sending to us if this is more convenient for you. Please store faeces in a refrigerator.
• Category 3 organisms: Requests for work on samples also known to contain organisms in ACDP Hazard Group 3 must be clearly marked.

Charges

Stool testing service is free of charge to all NHS Trust, UKHSA and Public Health Wales laboratories in England and Wales, to whom Cryptosporidium positive control stools for microscopy and enzyme immunoassays can be supplied on request,

Charges for investigations for other purposes are reviewed annually and can be supplied on request.