The Microbiology Laboratory receives samples from patients to identify organisms that are responsible for infection, including bacteria, fungi, and parasites. The laboratory work flow is handled by Medical Laboratory Scientists specialized in microbiology and is staffed 24 hours per day.

Testing performed in the Microbiology Laboratory includes:

• Culture of blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), stool, tissue, and other human samples for aerobic, anaerobic, mycobacterial, and fastidious bacterial species as well as fungus

• Direct staining for bacteria and fungi via Gram stain, Modified Acid Fast stain, and immunofluorescence for Pneumocystis

• Rapid detection of influenza, streptococcus, cryptococcus, Clostridium difficile, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium.

• Examination of stool and other body fluids for ova and parasites

• Molecular diagnostic testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza virus (1,2,3), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), BK virus, adenovirus, gonorrhea, chlamydia,

• Trichomonas and Clostridium difficile (C-diff) confirmatory testing.

• Isolation, identification and susceptibility testing of bacterial pathogens.

• Matrix-Assisted Laser - Desorption Ionization - Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) Speciation.

• Mycobacteriology

• Mycology

• Parasitology

• Virology