Reviewed on : 11 Mar 2025

Reviewed by : Coventry and Warwickshire Pathology Services & Gateway Editor

Expires : 11 Mar 2027

Microbiology Services

The Microbiology laboratory service at George Eliot Hospital and SWFT is now based at the single-site laboratory at UHCW, as part of the Coventry and Warwickshire Pathology Services

There is still a Consultant service at each Trust

Trust clinicians and General Practitioners previously using the laboratory at an individual Trust are encouraged to maintain the same clinical links with the Consultant Microbiologists based at that Trust

The following services are provided:

• Bacteriology
• Mycology
• Virology
• Serology
• Parasitology
• Hyperimmune Immunoglobulins

Clinical Advice

University Hospital (024 76964000)

The medical staff, accessible on the numbers listed, provide clinical advice covering all aspects of the service

In the event of a microbiologist not being directly available either leave a message with the secretary, or where required more urgently contact by long range bleep / mobile phone via the trust switchboard

Microbiology Duty office (UHCW) Ext: 24750/25455/24688

Microbiology Secretaries (UHCW) Ext: 25446/25487

George Eliot Hospital (024 76865325) Microbiology Secretary Direct: 024 76153081 Ext. 3081

South Warwick Hospital (01926 495321) Microbiologist Secretary Direct: 01926 495321 Ext. 4227

Medical advice is always available 24 hours a day 365 days of the year via the University Hospital switchboard (024 76964000). A Biomedical Scientist (BMS) is available for processing specimens and can be contacted via the same number above. The on call BMS will advise on the most suitable specimen(s) and its (their) preservation during transport to the designated collection point. Please note ALL on-call specimens are processed at University Hospital, and are sent there

Bacteriology Swabs including Wound Swabs

The following is an excerpt from the Pathology Directory published elsewhere on GP Gateway

Follow link on right for full document

Pus, Swabs, Aspirates, Biopsies

a. Pus

NB where there is both histopathological and microbiological examination required, a portion of the sample for Microbiology must be collected into a white-topped sterile container WITHOUT FORMALIN.

Pus should be sent in preference to a swab and in some cases e.g. suspected tuberculosis or actinomycosis, pus should always be sent if present.

Samples are sent in sterile universal containers. DO NOT ADD FORMALIN.

b. Swabs

Where there is insufficient material to send pus, the site may be sampled using a swab.

As much material as possible should be taken up on the swab by rubbing it gently over the affected area and rotating it at the same time.

The swab should then be placed in a tube of transport medium, which allows the survival of the more delicate organisms that might otherwise be missed. (Dry swabs are not used).

c. Nose swabs

When sampling the anterior nares i.e. a suspected MRSA carrier, it is important that the swab should be pre-moistened in sterile saline.

d. Fluid aspirates, biopsy specimens etc

Aspirated fluids, such as bursa/synovial fluids etc, should be sent in a sterile Universal container, separate from the portions set aside for histological, cytological or biochemical investigation.

If tuberculosis is a possibility this should be stated on the request form, so that TB culture may be performed.

Biopsy specimens should be sent similarly.

It is most important that the portion for microbiological examination is received FRESH AND FREE FROM FORMALIN.

The same consideration about possible tuberculosis applies as above.