The Environmental Microbiology Unit (EMU), UKAS accredited testing laboratory no. 1970, offers microbiological testing of a wide range of environmental samples to satisfy legislative, health and safety and hygiene monitoring requirements.
Main sample types tested are water, air, environmental swabs, settle and contact plates. A list of our UKAS accredited services is described on our UKAS Schedule of Accreditation.
Laboratory opening hours are:
08.30 - 17.00 Monday to Friday
09.00 - 17.00 Saturday (Sundays by prior arrangement).
Please contact the laboratory for advice, current sampling programme requirements, testing schedule and sampling supplies.
Tel: 01444 448728
Download a copy of the water microbiology request form. (revision 3, last updated 21/7/2023)
Turnaround times
Individual Water Tests
Aerobic Colony Count/ml 37°C (Pools): 1 day
Aerobic Colony Count/ml 37°C (Potables): 2 days
Aerobic Colony Count/ml 22°C (Potables): 3 days
E.coli/Total coliforms/100ml: 2 days
Staphylococcus aureus/100ml: 3 days
Pseudomonas aeruginosa/100ml (Pools/Hospital Tap): 3 days
Water Sample Types
Pool waters / Potable waters: 3 days
Hospital Tap Pseudomonas Screen: 3 days
Endoscopy rinse water - ACC/100ml (Preliminary result at 2 days if ACC=9 or above): 5 days
Legionella pneumophila/1000ml: 10 days
Environmental/Sterility Samples including MALDI ID
MALDI ID: 5 days
TSA5 Settle plates: 10 days
TSA & SAB settle plates: 10 days
THIO and TSB broths: 15 days
Contacts
Senior staff |
Unit Manager |
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(vacant) Chief Biomedical Scientist Chief Biomedical Scientist |
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Chief Biomedical Scientist |
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Microbiology IT Lead |