Reference core services (Accredited to ISO 15189):
- Confirmatory susceptibility testing on a number of antimicrobials
- Susceptibility testing of antimicrobial agents for difficult to treat infections
- Confirmation of resistance mechanism in “Resistance Alert” isolates
- Confirmation of unusual resistances EUCAST advice on intrinsic resistence and unusual phenotypes (EUCAST 2023)
- Confirmation of specific resistance/resistance mechanism using genotypic and/or phenotypic methods. These include (but not exclusive to):
- Confirmation of carbapenem resistance plus carbapenemase detection (VIM, IMP, NDM, KPC and OXA-48-like genes) in all Gram-negative bacteria (Please see exclusions document)
- Confirmation of oxacillinase (OXA-23-like, OXA-24-like and OXA-58-like) in Acinetobacter species
- Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) in Gram-negative bacteria
- Vancomycin (Glycopeptide) resistance in Enterococcus species (VRE)
- Colistin MIC by microbroth dilution**
- Mobile Colistin Resistance (mcr-1 to mcr-10) in gram negative bacteria
- High-level mupirocin resistance in S. aureus
- Methicillin resistance in S. aureus
- Panton-Valentine Leucocidin (PVL) detection [Please note that PVL testing will only be performed when sufficient clinical details of risk factors are provided]
** Due to recent service developments, laboratory accreditation for these tests is currently awaiting UKAS confirmation.
Additional services following discussion (Not accredited to ISO 15189):
- Agar dilution, broth microdilution for MIC confirmation where appropriate
- Broth microdilution MIC testing: Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from cystic fibrosis patients
- Outbreak support - this may include antibiogram, resistance mechanism and typing analysis plus advice on likely routes of dissemination. Contact SACU for discussion/advice
- Combination (Synergy) testing of antimicrobials using broth microdilution, gradient strips or time kill curves will be offered with appropriate discussion
- Determination of GISA (Homogeneous glycopeptide intermediate S. aureus) and hGISA (Heterogeneous glycopeptide intermediate S. aureus)
Advisory and Scientific:
- Advice on alternative antimicrobial therapy & management of resistant infections
- Support for local EUCAST susceptibility testing methodology & guidelines
- Advice on performance and interpretation of susceptibility testing
- Advice on quality control for susceptibility testing
- Support for local and national projects
- Advice on screening for antimicrobial resistant organisms
Specific information on any service offered