Reference Laboratories

All suspect isolates and clinical samples should be sent to the Reference Laboratory for confirmation, taking care to observe appropriate procedures for transportation. The sender's name and address should be clearly marked. The laboratory must be telephoned prior to sending, to alert them to expect the sample.

Organism and disease	Reference Laboratory Details
Bacillus anthracis: Anthrax	Dr Tim Brooks Special Pathogens Reference Unit HPA Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response Porton Down Salisbury SP4 0JG Tel: ( 44) 01980 612774 Tel: ( 44) 01980 612100 (24hours)
Clostridium botulinum: Botulism	Dr Kathie Grant Foodborne Pathogens Reference Unit HPA Centre for Infections 61 Colindale Avenue London NW9 5EQ Tel: ( 44) 020 8327 6505
Smallpox Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers	Dr David Brown or Dr Robin Gopal Viral Zoonosis Unit Enteric, Respiratory and Neurological Virus Laboratory HPA Centre for Infections 61 Colindale Avenue, London. NW9 5HT Tel:( 44) 020 8327 6017 ( 44) 020 8200 4400 (24hour) OR Dr Tim Brooks Special Pathogens Reference Unit HPA Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response Porton Down Salisbury SP4 0JG Tel: ( 44) 01980 612774 Tel: ( 44) 01980 612100 (24hours)
Yersinia pestis: Plague	Mr Tom Cheasty Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens HPA Centre for Infections 61 Colindale Avenue London, NW9 5HT Tel: ( 44) 020 8327 6173
Francisella tularensis: Tularemia	Dr Tim Brooks Special Pathogens Reference Unit HPA Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response Porton Down Salisbury SP4 0JG Tel: ( 44) 01980 612774 Tel: ( 44) 01980 612100 (24hours)
Coxiella burnetii: Q-Fever	Dr Tim Brooks Special Pathogens Reference Unit HPA Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response Porton Down Salisbury SP4 0JG Tel: ( 44) 01980 612774 Tel: ( 44) 01980 612100 (24hours) OR Dr Robert C Spencer HPA South West Bristol Royal Infirmary Marlborough Street Bristol BS2 8HW Tel: ( 44) 0117 342 5551
Burkholderia mallei: Glanders Burkholderia pseudomallei: Melioidosis	Laboratory of Healthcare Associated Infection Epidemiology Typing Unit HPA Centre for Infections 61 Colindale Avenue London NW9 5HT 020 8327 7224
Brucella spp.: Brucellosis	1. Cultures or samples for isolation Department of Statutory and Exotic Bacterial Diseases Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Weybridge New Haw, Addlestone Surrey KT15 3NB Tel: 44 01932 341111 Direct Line to lab: 01932 357350 2. Samples for serology Clinical Microbiology and HPA Collaborating Laboratory Brucella Reference Unit (BRU) University Hospital Aintree Lower Lane Liverpool L9 7AL Tel: 44 0151 529 4900

Transport of Specimens to the Laboratory
Procedures to observe during transport of samples where there is suspicion of a deliberate release of a biological agent
Added/updated: 30 September 2009