MICROBIOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Bacteriology
Virology
Serology
National Measles Laboratory

The Microbiology service provides clients from both the public and private sectors, with specialist information on microbial agents, which may be involved in a patient’s infectious disease process, or an outbreak of infectious disease. Specialities covered include bacteriology, virology, serology, mycology, parasitology and infection control services. These services are provided by experienced and highly qualified staff and are all integrated, with specialist medical interpretation of results and general microbiological advice provided by two medical medical microbiologists, a virologist and two registrars.

Bacteriology

The Bacteriology Section offers a comprehensive range of routine aerobic and anaerobic bacteriology, and includes specialist TB and sexual health laboratories. Automated systems are used for blood and mycobacteria cultures, while molecular techniques are used for an increasing range of bacterial pathogens, including mycobacteria, leptospira, MRSA, pertussis, meningococci and gonococci. It is the largest section within Microbiology and is staffed 16 hours per day (0800-0030 hours) 7 days a week. An urgent service is provided 0030 – 0800 hours. A parasitology laboratory is included in this group and provides expert specialist testing for New Zealand clients.

Virology

The Virology section is one of the leading clinical virology diagnostic services in New Zealand. A wide range of diagnostic assays are provided for internal, external and international clients and new tests are continually being introduced through the Section’s research and development activities. The Section’s primary focus is on rapid virus diagnosis. Rapid antigen detection methods, enhanced cell culture techniques for the isolation of a wider range of viruses, and molecular techniques are used. Qualitative PCR is used for the detection of an increasing number of viral and other pathogens, while quantitative PCR is available for the monitoring of infections in patients undergoing antiviral therapy. The Section also coordinates the WHO National Influenza Surveillance for Canterbury, South Canterbury and West Coast.

Serology

The Serology section provides a comprehensive range of serological assays for the diagnosis of bacterial, viral, chlamydial, mycoplama and parasitic infections for internal, external and international clients. Routine and reference specialist testing is performed using both automated and manual serological techniques for both microbial antigen and antibody detection. National and international quality assurance programmes, including the Serology QAP of the RCPA and the national Serology Reference Laboratory Chlamydia QAP, are participated in. In 2005, the Section was designated the WHO National Measles reference laboratory for New Zealand.