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HSL Parasitology Reporting times

The reporting time is defined as the period from the receipt and booking in of a specimen to the time the report is issued to the individual requesting the test.
Clinically important requests will be given priority and the results telephoned to you at the earliest opportunity.

A table listing the range of tests for parasitic diseases that are undertaken in the Department of Clinical Parasitology is available as a separate turnaround times document.

 

Microscopy turnaround times

Within the working week, we aim to provide a 24-hour turnaround time for the majority of microscopy tests, although some tests have an official turn-around- time which is longer than this period. The majority of microscopy tests can be performed and reported by telephone within 24 hours of receiving an urgent specimen if prior notice is given.

 

PCR turnaround times

It is most economical to carry out molecular tests in batches and, in general, molecular tests are not necessarily performed as soon as a specimen is received (except for the diagnosis of Free Living Amoebae). Most tests are batched weekly, thus when tests are carried out at the Department of Clinical Parasitology, written reports may not be available for eight to 21 days after the specimen has reached the laboratory depending upon the assay type. The extended period is to allow for required reflex testing such as species identification where this would be of clinical importance.

 

Serology turnaround times

It is most economical to carry out serological tests in batches and, in general, serological tests are not necessarily performed as soon as a specimen is received. Most tests are batched weekly, thus when tests are carried out at the Department of Clinical Parasitology, written reports may not be available for 8 days after the specimen has reached the laboratory. The exception to this is Amoebiasis, which is tested for on a daily basis.

When several tests are to be carried out on the same specimen, urgent tests such as Amoebiasis will be booked on a separate number to facilitate rapid reporting.

If urgent results are required or if you want to know when a particular result will be available, please contact the relevant department via Switchboard.

 

Samples sent to external reference laboratories

The following tests may be referred to external laboratories for primary or confirmatory testing:

  • Angiostrongylus, Anisaksis, Paragonimus, Gnathostoma serology
  • Insects (for further identification) and malaria PCR
  • Ancathamoeba kerrititis samples.

We would hope for a 28-day turnaround from sending of a sample to another reference laboratory to receiving a result and reporting it on our computer system.