Cryptosporidium Reference Unit

Contact Us

Cryptosporidium Reference Unit
Public Health Wales Microbiology
Singleton Hospital
Sgeti
Swansea
SA2 8QA

Public Health Wales Microbiology
DX 6070300
Swansea 90 SA

Tel: 01792 285341 (for results, consultation and advice during office hours)
Tel (out of hours): 01792 205666 (ask for on-call consultant microbiologist)
Fax: 01792 202320
Email: Swansea.crypto@wales.nhs.uk
Laboratory hours: 0845-1700 (Monday to Friday)

Staff

Senior Staff

Consultant Clinical Scientist and Head of Unit: Professor Rachel Chalmers
Principal Clinical Scientists: Dr Kristin Elwin and Dr Guy Robinson
Consultant Medical Microbiologist: Dr Angharad Davies
Lead Biomedical Scientist: Heather Ayres FIBMS CSci

Supported by a Research Scientist and a Biomedical Support Worker

Core Reference Services and Guide to Investigations

Differential diagnosis and confirmation of referred isolates of Cryptosporidium,
Specialist testing for the detection of Cryptosporidium in immunocompromised patients at high risk
Typing of referred isolates to support outbreak/cluster investigations and for epidemiological surveillance
Evaluation of new laboratory methods for Cryptosporidium
Provision of positive control and training materials
Consultation advice on diagnostic methods and management of cryptosporidiosis
Advice on the investigation, epidemiology, control and prevention of Cryptosporidium
R & D activities in relation to our reference functions

Investigation	Samples required	Tests performed	Turnaround time (depends on complexity and current workload)
Confirmation	Stool DNA (min 20µl) - by prior arrangement	Microscopy PCR	2 working days
Specialist testing of immunocompromised patients at high risk from Cryptosporidium	Stool (minimum 2 scoops) Other specimen types as indicated	Microscopy (including immunofluorescence) PCR-based tests	2 working days PCR offered weekly
Typing of Cryptosporidium isolates (species/genotype) for epidemiological purposes and for the investigation of clusters/outbreaks Further characterisation is at the discretion of the Unit Head or following consultation	Cryptosporidium-positive stools (minimum 2 scoops, ideally without preservative but if formalin has been added, this should be noted on the form) DNA (min 20µl) - by prior arrangement	PCR-based tests	5-10 working days (maybe reduced during outbreak investigations)
Typing from Cryptosporidium-positive water and environmental slides	Please see our water and environmental services webpage for details

“The following local test arose from a service improvement project and is currently outside of our accredited scope, awaiting assessment by UKAS:
Multilocus genotyping of Cryptosporidium parvum by MLVA at the discretion of the Unit Head or following consultation.
Ongoing assurance of quality in the meantime is maintained by internal and external quality assurance, quality control and training.”

How to Obtain Services

Use the Cryptosporidium Reference Unit form above.

Sample transportation

Samples should be sent in packaging appropriate to current legislation, accompanied by a referral form (available to download above) detailing putative diagnosis, patient or sample details and relevant (clinical) history.
Send either by Royal Mail, HAYSDX or other Courier Services
Cryptosporidium positive stools for typing may be batched prior to sending to us if this is more convenient for you. Please store faeces in a refrigerator
Category 3 organisms: Requests for work on samples also known to contain organisms in ACDP Hazard Group 3 must be clearly marked.

Charges

Stool testing service is free of charge to all NHS Trust, Public Health England and Public Health Wales laboratories in England and Wales, to whom Cryptosporidium positive control stools for microscopy and enzyme immunoassays can be supplied on request,

Charges for investigations for other purposes are reviewed annually and can be supplied on request.