Respiratory Chlamydiae reference services

The APU offers a reference service for chlamydia DNA detection by PCR, which may be useful in the investigation of individual cases and outbreaks of respiratory chlamydia infections. This service is only offered where there is a clear public health need to establish the diagnosis. Please contact the laboratory to discuss before sending any samples.

The laboratory is happy to discuss particular diagnostic and clinical problems, ask for Dr Tim Harrison (020 8327 6776/7331) in the first instance.

All enquiries relating to C. trachomatis should be referred to STBRL laboratory (telephone 020 8440 6464).

Turnround time: This is not a routine service and turnround times will therefore vary depending on the nature of the enquiry and the complexity of the investigation required.

How to obtain Chlamydiae referred services

Use the Atypical Pneumonia Unit request form
R1 Atypical pneumonia request form (PDF, 319 KB)

Specimen submissions regarded by the sending laboratory as especially important or urgent should be notified to APU by telephone (020 8327 7331/6776/7222) to ensure that the appropriate level of priority is accorded to these specimens immediately upon receipt.

Last reviewed: 24 February 2012