Test Directory

Antibiotic Assay

Containers - Adult

BrownCapGelClotted.jpg
Brown Cap, Gel Clotted
Volume Range

1-10 ml

Containers - Child

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White Cap - Paediatric
Volume Range

>0.2 ml

Additive per Container

None

Reference ranges

References ranges will be shown on the report.

Laboratory Site

North Bristol NHS Trust
Southmead Hospital
Southmead Road
Westbury-on-Trym
Bristol
BS10 5NB
Telephone: 0117 970 1212
RIE
51 Little France Crescent
Old Dalkeith Road
Edinburgh
EH16 4SA
Telephone (Bacteriology): 0131 242 6021 OOH Bleep 2900

Transport arrangements

Transport as soon as practicable.

Sample storage arrangements

If delay in transporting, store in fridge (4-6°C).

Special instructions for collection

To measure levels of other antimicrobials in serum e.g. antifungals, aminoglycosides, glycopeptides, anti-TB drugs, colistin (but not vancomycin, gentamicin and tobramycin which are processed locally.)  

Processed in reference laboratory (Bristol or Cardiff) after being sent from NHS Lothian.

Therapeutic drug monitoring for anti-TB medications requires specific sample types and processes depending on which drug and which laboratory the sample is going to. Please follow the guidelines here when planning to sample for therapeutic drug monitoring guide - "Guidance for therapeutic monitoring of TB medication".

How to request

Via TRAK (" e.g. Teicoplanin assay" and amend sample time to pre-dose, post-dose, or random, as relevant.) Alternatively, for antibiotics not listed on Trak, order via request form.

For anti-TB medication monitoring, please follow the guidelines carefully when requesting to ensure the right sample is taken at the right time, and labelled with the right details to be able to be processed. At the time of writing, TB TDM must be requested on separate bacteriology request forms. To assist with local processing of samples, please write "FOR REFERRED SEROLOGY", and "PLEASE DO NOT SPIN" on the form(s).

Availability

Samples will be posted from Mon - Thurs, please avoid taking samples on other days.

Anticipated turnaround

Up to 5 days.

What happens if the result is positive or abnormal

Result will appear on TRAK and if necessary phoned by a microbiologist.

General additional information

For more information about the tests available and their results interpretation please use:

NHS Severn Antimicrobial Reference Laboratory Guideline Ranges for TDM (2022-2023) 

Analytes | North Bristol NHS Trust (nbt.nhs.uk)