Serology
Blood samples for the presence of viral and bacterial antigens and antibodies (IgG and IgM), to help diagnose diseases and check immune status, are tested within Serology.
Specimen requirements
Samples should be transported to the laboratory as soon as possible. If specimen transport will be delayed, e.g. from primary care, specimens should be stored in a refrigerator until transported to the laboratory.
The analysers are able to process blood samples from a range of blood tubes for each of the tests performed.
Please check on the table below as some tests cannot be performed on blood in certain tubes.
Please see the Tube Guide for recommended order of draw.
| |
Clot activator and silicone coated |
Clot activator and gel |
Potassium EDTA |
Sodium citrate |
Sodium heparin |
Lithium heparin |
Acid citrate dextrose |
Citrate phospahte dextrose |
Citrate phosphate double dextrose |
Citrate phosphate dextrose adenine |
Potassium oxalate |
| |
Red |
Gold |
Purple |
Blue |
Green |
Green |
Yellow |
Yellow |
Yellow |
Yellow |
Grey |
| Syphilis |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
|
|
|
| CMV IgM |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
| CMV IgG |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
| EBV EBNA IgG |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
| EBV VGA IgG |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
| EBV VGA IgM |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
| Rubella IgG |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
| Rubella IgM |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
| Toxoplasma IgG |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
| Toxoplasma IgM |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
| HIV combo Ag/AB |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
| HAV IgM |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
| HAV IgG |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
| HBsAg |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
| Anti-HBs |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
|
|
Yes |
|
| Anti-HB core |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
| Anti-HBe |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
| Anti HCV |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| HCV Ag |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
|
|
|
| HTLV I/II Ab |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
|
| VZV IgG |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Measles IgG |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mumps IgG |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Parvovirus IgG |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Parvovirus IgM |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Borrelia IgG |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Hepatitis E |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Helicobacter pylori IgG |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Some serological tests cannot be performed in-house; they are sent by us to other laboratories for testing:
For details of samples needed for molecular testing and viral loads, please see:
Molecular testing
If serum for saving only is required, please request short-term storage (three months).
For a more comprehensive list, please refer to the Microbiology Laboratory Users Manual (pdf, 684 KB)
Some serology tests are added or removed depending on the patients clinical details. For example, Hepatitis E serology is only tested when the ALT >400 or at the request of Gastrology. All rejected tests will be reported with an appropriate comment and the laboratory is happy to discuss all cases. See contact details.
Laboratory turnaround time
Please see Turnaround times
Laboratory method
Samples are run on immunoanalysers in the core automated laboratory and in the Serology section.
Where to find results of these tests
- All results are returned electronically where possible (EPR, SunquestICE).
- Some results may be phoned to clinicians and GPs.
- Results are never given directly to patients by the laboratory staff.
Further information and contact details
For further information please email:
microbiology.advice.ouh@nhs.net
Confidential patient information should only be sent from nhs.net accounts.
Microbiology Laboratory Users Manual (pdf, 684 KB)