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Home › Products & Services › Infectious Diseases › Laboratories and Reference Facilities › Respiratory and Systemic Infection Laboratory (RSIL) ›Streptococcus and Diphtheria Reference Unit ›  Identification of Streptococci and related genera
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Identification of Streptococci and related genera

SDRU offers a referred (charged for) taxonomic identification service for streptococci and other related gram positive, catalase negative genera from systemic and other significant infections.

However, a free-of-charge reference service will continue to be available for urgent public health investigations, outbreaks and incident management, either nosocomial or community based. This should be discussed and agreed with either Dr. Androulla Efstratiou (020 8327 7270).

The laboratory is happy to discuss and advise upon particular clinical or epidemiological problems, ask for Dr Androulla Efstratiou (020 8327 7270) in the first instance.

SDRU liaise closely with the Antibiotic Resistance Monitoring and Reference Laboratory (ARMRL) in studies of the antibiotic susceptibility of referred isolates, if asked to do so by the requesting laboratory.

Turnround time: The turnaround time is 12 days.

Isolates that needs MIC/MBC will be referred to the Antibiotic Resistance Monitoring Reference Laboratory (ARMRL Isolates that are not streptococci and may be an enterococcus or a Gram positive rod are referred to the Laboratory of HealthCare Associated Infections (LHCAI). The turnaround time in this instant will vary.

How to obtain service

Use the R3 Streptococcus & diphtheria referral form (PDF, 349 KB) a nd supply pure culture on blood or chocolate agar slopes.

Specimen submissions regarded by the sending laboratory as urgent should be notified to SDRU by telephone (020 8327 7270/7289) to ensure that the appropriate level of priority is accorded to these specimens immediately upon receipt.

Other information

* An identification scheme incorporating updated taxonomic methodologies is used.

* Updated nomenclature based upon both the UK and USA classification schemes is used to subdivide streptococci into many species e.g.; the 'sanguinis group' is subdivided into S.sanguinis, S.parasanguinis, S.gordonii and S.cristatus; S.australis; the 'anginosus group' is subdivided into S.anginosus, S.constellatus subsp constellatus, S.constellatus subsp pharyngis and S.intermedius.


Last reviewed: 24 February 2012