Microbiology has brought a number of tests that used to be sent away back in-house. Making these changes significantly reduces the turnaround times for these tests, resulting in an improved patient experience.
The first of these tests is the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)/Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which used to be sent to Public Health England. The turnaround time for this test used to be two weeks but is now seven working days, a significant reduction.
Molecular detection of Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) and Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) from genital samples is now being performed in-house using the Roche 6800 platform. This has not only enabled a reduction in turn-around time from up to seven days to three days, but will also improve patient experience as a single sample can be used for the detection of TV/MG and CT/NG (Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae). In addition, molecular detection of macrolide-associated resistance mutations in M. genitalium will also be available in-house later this month.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can now be requested as a stand-alone test, having previously only been available as part of a combined test. Testing is now done every day of the working week, where previously it was only done three times a week.
Microbiology is looking to repatriate further tests in the coming months.