SEROLOGICAL TESTING IN A MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY OF SPECIMENS FROM PATIENTS WITH SUSPECTED INFECTIOUS-DISEASE

Aims-To determine how the microbiology laboratories of one region proc ess serological requests from patients with suspected infectious illne ss, referred to as ''clinical syndrome'' type patients in this study; to consider areas where improvement in the associated serology service could be made. Methods-A prospective two month collection of data on all serological requests from patients with suspected infectious illne ss was undertaken. A questionnaire on laboratory policies/procedures w as also completed by the 10 departments taking part. Results-Serology specimens from ''clinical syndrome'' patients accounted for 1-2% of to tal microbiology samples. There was significant variation in some of t he policies/procedures carried out by the 10 laboratories when handlin g serological requests. Differences were seen in the use of laboratory protocols for test processing, range of tests performed, demand for s econd (convalescent) serum samples, storage of serum samples, and repo rting of results. Conclusions-The laboratory management of ''clinical syndrome'' type requests is complex. Individual pathology departments vary in the way they handle serology specimens but this study highligh ted areas which may contribute to improving the appropriateness of tes ting and the more efficient use of serology resources. These include i mproving (1) clinician education, (2) pathology request forms to encou rage better clinical information, (3) appropriate laboratory protocols to aid decision making on test selection, (4) percentage of convalesc ent received together with storage, and (5) serum samples longer serum sample turnround times of serology reports.