Collection

Bacteriology reference department (BRD)

BRD is a national and international laboratory reference centre for a wide range of bacterial infections.

Published 1 July 2014
Last updated 14 May 2020 — see all updates

• From: Public Health England

The Bacteriology reference department (BRD) provides serology and confirmatory testing, on referral from Rare and imported pathogens laboratory (RIPL) only.

The department (BRD) is made up of 3 units:

• Respiratory and vaccine preventable bacteria reference unit (RVPBRU)
• Gastrointestinal bacteria reference unit (GBRU)
• Antimicrobial resistance and healthcare associated infections reference unit (AMRHAI)

These laboratories work together locally, nationally and internationally and provide a wealth of expertise and specialist and reference services.

BRD receives clinical samples and bacterial isolates from public health departments, NHS and commercial laboratories across the UK and internationally for specialist testing, bacterial characterisation and susceptibility testing.

Important service update

To enable Public Health England (PHE) reference and specialist laboratories to continue to provide critical support to the enhanced COVID-19 incident, some service delivery changes have been made with immediate effect.

The following updates have since been issued:

• Legionella services (urine antigen testing, PCR, culture and typing) are unaffected (see user manual for details)
• Streptococcal identification and typing services are offered as routine, with priority to outbreak typing (GBS and GAS)
• Mycoplasma pneumoniae macrolide resistance testing is not suspended, but samples may be batched and turnaround times may be extended

The situation will be regularly reviewed. For the most current information, contact the relevant department using the contact details provided in the BRD user manual.

Contact

Bacteriology reference department (BRD)

Public Health England
61 Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5EQ

Telephone 020 8327 7887 (staffed from 9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday)

DX address PHE Colindale Bacteriology, DX 6530002

BRD documents

• Bacteriology reference department user manual
  • 13 October 2020
  • Guidance

AMRHAI documents

Use the Electronic Reporting System for the Enhanced Surveillance of Carbapenemase-Producing Gram-Negative Bacteria.

• AMRHAI reference unit: reference and diagnostic services
  • 14 May 2020
  • Guidance
• Healthcare pathogens request form: multiple isolates
  • 4 December 2019
  • Form
• Healthcare pathogens request form: single isolate
  • 4 December 2019
  • Form
• AMRHAI bacterial identification request form
  • 4 December 2019
  • Form
• Molecular confirmation tests request form
  • 21 February 2020
  • Form
• Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolate referral form
  • 11 June 2020
  • Form

GBRU documents

• GBRU: reference and diagnostic services
  • 14 May 2020
  • Guidance
• Gastrointestinal bacteria culture referral form
  • 29 September 2017
  • Form
• Gastrointestinal bacteria clinical referral form
  • 29 September 2017
  • Form
• Gastrointestinal bacteria food and environmental sample referral form
  • 1 July 2014
  • Form

RVPBRU documents

• RVPBRU: reference and diagnostic services
  • 14 May 2020
  • Guidance
• Respiratory and systemic bacteria section: request form
  • 21 January 2020
  • Form
• Vaccine preventable bacteria section request form
  • 22 May 2020
  • Form

Published 1 July 2014
Last updated 14 May 2020 + show all updates

1. 14 May 2020

   Added notification of service delivery changes made to PHE reference and specialist laboratories to provide critical support to the COVID-19 incident.

2. 14 June 2018

   Removed STBRU section due to organisational changes.

3. 12 October 2016

   Edited the STBRU document group.

4. 29 September 2016

   Added three new forms.

5. 1 July 2014

   First published.