Bacteriology is concerned with the isolation, identification and susceptibility testing of bacterial organisms from a variety of clinical samples.
The NHS Lothian Bacteriology service is part of the Microbiology Department and is available at two main sites: RIE and SJH. The RIE site alone receives approximately 0.5M samples a year. Bacteriology offers a 24/7 service.
Contact the laboratory on our Lab phone numbers during core hours:
RIE: 0131 242 6021 internally 26021 (0730-1800) everyday, including public holidays and weekends
SJH: 01506 52 3075 internally 53075 (0900-1700 weekdays, 0900-1600 weekends, Festive holidays 0900-1300 all other holidays are as normal weekdays/weekend)
Outside our core hours:
- Out of hours BMS (both sites) bleep 2900 via RIE switchboard
The MALDI-TOF at SJH is currently not UKAS accredited to ISO 15189 and is awaiting an Extension to Scope.
The ordering of emergency Bacteriology samples OOH from SJH requires special transport arrangements:
CSF samples: contact the on-call Biochemistry BMS on bleep 3728 and inform them you will be sending a CSF sample for onward delivery to the RIE. If only one small sample is obtained for all tests required, make it clear to the BMS the priority of testing. Bag the sample for transportation and arrange a porter to take it to the Biochemistry lab (not anywhere else even if the CSF sample is to be forwarded to the RIE).
All other sample types (emergencies): contact the RIE BMS (bleep 2900) and inform them of the sample you wish to send and how to contact you with the result. Package your sample, all materials required are on your ward. Call a porter to take the sample to the porter's "booth" at the main entrance for uplift. Call the SJH switchboard to arrange collection and transportation of the sample.
All other sample types (non-emergencies) - including blood cultures - can be placed opposite Microbiology by portering staff.
The ordering of emergency Bacteriology samples OOH from WGH requires special transport arrangements:
CSF samples: contact the on-call Haematology BMS on bleep 8477 and inform them you will be sending a CSF sample for cell count and onward delivery to the RIE. Bag the sample for transportation and arrange a porter to take it to the Blood Sciences Laboratories @ WGH.
All other sample types (non-emergencies): these samples should be packaged as normal and taken to the Blood Sciences Laboratories at WGH. They will be transported to the RIE in the morning via scheduled van service transport. We are in the process of arranging additional transport for blood cultures at midnight.