The Department for Evaluations, Standards and Training (DEST) provides services to support microbiology laboratories in the NHS and HPA.

What we do:

• Support the Centre for Infections with their quality system 
• Run Audit courses

Contact the Head of the Quality System Unit: Dr Ian Sharp Ian.Sharp@hpa.org.uk

• Develop National Standard Methods, Minimum Testing Algorithms, Syndromic Algorithms and Guidance Notes
• Communicate possible Technical Adverse Incidents to participating laboratories

Follow the link to National Standard Methods http://www.hpa-standardmethods.org.uk or contact the Head of the Standards Unit: Ruhi Siddiqui Ruhi.Siddiqui@hpa.org.uk

• Support the education and training for staff in the Centre for Infections
• Organise and coordinate the training programme including conferences, seminars, lectures, workshops, symposiums
• Infections Training Courses

Contact Dr Satnam Sagoo, Head of the Education and Training Unit

• DEST Links
  Links to the websites of some of the services used by the Department for Evaluations, Standards and Training (DEST)
  Added/updated: 8 April 2010