Virology screening/immunity/follow-up services
Listed by patient group:
This list is not exhaustive for the services provided by the virology section.
Antenatal (excluding cases with rash or rash contact in pregnancy)
| Samples | Test | Pathogens covered |
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• HIV antigen/antibody (if consent taken & requested)
• Hepatitis B surface antigen "HBsAg" (if requested)
• Rubella IgG antibody (if requested)
• Syphilis antibody (if requested)
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• HIV
• HBV
• Rubella
• Syphilis
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Comments
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If there is no rash contact in pregnancy, no need to test for VZV & B19. If there is no specific clinical indication, no need to test for CMV & toxoplasma. |
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5 mL clotted blood
Contacts of vesicular rash (in pregnancy, neonates, immunosuppressed patients or health care workers)
| Samples | Test | Pathogens covered |
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• VZV IgG
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• VZV
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Comments
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In case of pregnant women in contact with vesicular rash case, please contact the laboratory to use the booking blood (if available).
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Contacts of maculopapular rash (in pregnancy)
| Samples | Test | Pathogens covered |
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• B19 IgM
• B19 IgG • Rubella IgM*
• Rubella IgG*
• Measles IgG**
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• B19
• Rubella
• Measles
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Comments
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Please contact the laboratory to use the booking blood (if available). *If previously known rubella-G positive, no need to test for rubella IgM/IgG **Only request measles IgG if measles is confirmed in the index case or there is an epidemiological evidence of measles contact. |
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| Samples | Test | Pathogens covered |
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• HIV antigen/antibody (every 3 months)*
• Hepatitis B surface antigen “HBsAg” (every 3 months)* • Hepatitis B surface antibody “anti-HBs” (in vaccinated individuals)
• Hepatitis C antibody “anti-HCV” (every 3 months)*
• Hepatitis C RNA “HCV PCR” (in return patients dialysed abroad, in patients on severe immunosuppression or yearly in known anti-HCV positives)
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• HIV
• HBV
• HCV
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Comments
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* Test sooner if there is risk for HIV, HBV or HCV.
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GUM (non-HIV positive patients)
| Samples | Test | Pathogens covered |
|
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• HIV antigen/antibody (if consent taken)
• Hepatitis B surface antigen “HBsAg” • Hepatitis B core antibody “anti-HBc”
• Hepatitis B surface antibody “anti-HBs” • Hepatitis C antibody “anti-HCV”*
• Syphilis antibody
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• HIV
• HBV
• HCV
• Syphilis
|
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Comments
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For HBV and HCV, follow GUM algorithm. *HCV PCR is needed if acute HCV is suspected |
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Baseline serology for HIV positive patients
| Samples | Test | Pathogens covered |
|
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• Hepatitis A IgG antibody
• Hepatitis B surface antigen “HBsAg” • Hepatitis B core antibody “anti-HBc”
• Hepatitis B surface antibody “anti-HBs” • Hepatitis C antibody “anti-HCV”*
• CMV IgG antibody
• Toxoplasma IgG
• Syphilis antibody
|
• HAV
• HBV
• HCV
• CMV
• Toxoplasma
• Syphilis
|
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Comments
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*HCV PCR is needed if acute HCV is suspected |
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Viral load/Resistance follow up in specific groups according to relevant clinical algorithms.
| Samples | Test | Pathogens covered |
|
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• HIV RNA (Abbott RealTime RT-PCR)
• HIV resistance
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• HIV
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• HBV RNA (Abbott RealTime PCR)
• HBV genotyping/resistance
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• HBV
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| • HCV RNA (Abbott RealTime RT-PCR) • HCV genotyping |
• HCV
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| • CMV DNA (Qiagen monoplex test)* • Ganciclovir resistance |
• CMV
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• EBV DNA (Qiagen monoplex test)* |
• EBV
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| • Adenovirus DNA (Euroclone monoplex test)* | • Adenovirus | |
| • BK DNA | • BK | |
| • Parvovirus B19 DNA (Qiagen monoplex PCR) | • B19 | |
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Comments
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*The laboratory has also a quantitative triplex RealTime PCR for CMV, EBV & Adenovirus (to arrange testing, please contact Consultant Virologist).
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2 x 4 mL EDTA blood
Baseline serology for Haematology/Oncology patients
| Samples | Test | Pathogens covered |
|
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• HIV antigen/antibody (if consented & requested)
• Hepatitis A IgG antibody
• Hepatitis B surface antigen “HBsAg” • Hepatitis B core antibody “anti-HBc”
• Hepatitis B surface antibody “anti-HBs” • Hepatitis C antibody “anti-HCV”*
• CMV IgG antibody
• EBV VCA IgG
• VZV IgG
• Toxoplasma IgG • Syphilis antibody
|
• HIV
• HAV
• HBV
• HCV
• CMV
• EBV
• VZV
• Toxoplasma
• Syphilis
|
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Comments
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*HCV PCR is needed if acute HCV is suspected. |
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Transplant donor/recipient serology screen
| Samples | Test | Pathogens covered |
|
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• HIV antigen/antibody (if consented & requested)
• Hepatitis B surface antigen “HBsAg” • Hepatitis B core antibody “anti-HBc”
• Hepatitis B surface antibody “anti-HBs”* • Hepatitis C antibody “anti-HCV”**
• CMV IgG antibody
• EBV VCA IgG***
• VZV IgG****
• Toxoplasma IgG • Syphilis antibody
|
• HIV
• HBV
• HCV
• CMV
• EBV
• VZV
• Toxoplasma
• Syphilis
|
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Comments
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*Anti-HBs may be needed if anti-HBc is positive **HCV PCR is needed if anti-HCV is positive ***Particularly important in children ****In recipients only HTLV-1/2 serology may be considered in organ donors from endemic areas. |
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