Microbiology

What we do

The Microbiology Department is part of the Laboratory Medicine Directorate in St. James’s Hospital. The department provides a routine diagnostic service to St. James’s Hospital and to General Practitioners in the catchment area.
The three main sections of the laboratory are:

Bacteriology is concerned with

• Culture of a range of biological material (e.g. swabs, urine, blood, sputum) from human sources.
• Isolation and identification of potentially pathogenic bacteria.
• Determination of antibiotic susceptibilities.

Serology involves the diagnostic identification of antibodies in serum. Such antibodies are typically formed in response to an infection (against a given microorganism). Serological tests for antibodies to HIV, Hepatitis B & C and Syphilis are, among others, available in the Clinical Microbiology department.

Molecular Microbiology employs a highly sensitive technique known as Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify (replicate many times) a specific target DNA sequence in order to detect a particular pathogen.  Molecular Microbiology, like Serology, is employed when the suspected microbial agent either cannot be isolated in culture by any known method or can be isolated in culture only with great difficulty (e.g. Chlamydia).

For information in regard to the test repertoire offered, sample types required, reference ranges and test turnaround times, please see the LabMed User Guide

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