Scottish National Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Test Service

Introduction

The Scottish National Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Test Service (SNVTS) is based at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and offers Ebola, Marburg, Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever, Lassa Fever, Dengue Fever, and Malaria Testing (by molecular assays) to NHS Scotland in close collaborative partnership with the Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) at Porton Down, Wiltshire, England. SNVTS operates within 7-day laboratory working hours with on-call capacity for testing of urgent 'high possibility of VHF' samples using molecular (real-time PCR) approaches.

This information is intended for use by healthcare professionals working in Scotland. It is not intended for use by patients or non specialists.

Approach

In line with UK arrangements, Scottish Doctors attending patients with possible VHF should contact their local Infection Consultant (Infectious Diseases Physician, Consultant Virologist, or Consultant Microbiologist) for initial case discussion and advice. If such discussion merits further VHF assessment, the local Infection Consultant should contact the UK Imported Fever Service IFS on 08 44 77 88 99 0 (RIPL Doctor On Call: 07789 031 672).

The IFS Doctor will assist with risk assessment (including need for, and urgency of, sample testing and immediate management). If the agreed outcome supports VHF testing of samples, the IFS Doctor will approach SNVTS by contacting the Duty/On Call Consultant Virologist (the SNVTS Consultant On Call) at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh through 0131 536 1000 (hospital switchboard) who will confirm details with the local Infection Consultant and instruct testing.

Please note that SNVTS will NOT accept samples for urgent VHF testing unless such an approach has been agreed in conversation between the local Infection Consultant and IFS. Equally, IFS will advise on a case-by-case basis whether samples may be sent as Category A or B shipments.

Any case(s) of possible VHF in Scotland should be notified immediately by the local Infection Consultant to the local Public Health Team who will inform Public Health Scotland and Scottish Government with a view to consider convening a Problem Assessment Group/Incident Management Team meeting (for Membership and details of approach, please refer to Scottish National guidance). Equally, the local Infection Prevention and Control Service should be notified immediately.