Departments in UHK

Microbiology

The Microbiology Department investigates patient samples for bacterial pathogens using standard referenced clinical microbiology procedures. The Microbiology department processes approximately 60,000 samples annually. The Departments primary role is to isolate and identify bacterial pathogens and provide antimicrobial susceptibility test results. Blood serology tests are referred through the Microbiology Department to CUH www.cuh.ie

The Molecular Diagnostics section of Microbiology provides a Gastro Panel and a C. difficile Panel. Molecular stool testing to detect acute gastroenteritis replaced the previous culture/immunoassay methodologies for the detection of the gastrointestinal pathogens: Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Campylobacter jejuni/coli/lari, verocytotoxic E. coli (VTEC), Cryptosporidium hominis/parvum and Giardia lamblia. Molecular stool testing to detect the C. difficile toxin B gene replaced the immunoassay testing for C. difficile (GDH and Toxin A/B).

Recently SARS-CoV-2 testing was validated. There is now a workflow where UHK urgent samples are tested using the GeneXpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 assay and non-urgent UHK samples and community samples are tested using the RespiBio SARS-CoV-2 assay, thus allowing us to serve both UHK and the Kerry community.

The Microbiology Department provides notification to the Consultant Microbiologist, Infection Control and Public Health Department of any notifiable infections.

The department is governed by an on-site consultant microbiologist who provides advisory services to service users as needed.

The laboratory provides a 24 hour service 365 days per year with restricted emergency service outside routine working hours of 8am to 8pm (Monday – Friday) (excluding bank holidays)

For all general queries and results, call Pathology Office on 066 7184363(4)

For specific laboratory enquiries call Microbiology Laboratory on 066 718 4368