Brucella Reference Unit (BRU)
The Brucella Reference Unit (BRU) provides laboratory reference services relating to Brucella species.
Brucella Reference Unit (BRU) services
The BRU provides:
- advice on the diagnosis and clinical management of brucellosis
- assistance in the diagnosis of neurobrucellosis
- a Brucella serology and molecular service
See further detail on these services.
Contact
Brucella Reference Unit
Liverpool Clinical Laboratories
Virology Department
8th Floor, Duncan Building
Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospital
Prescot Street
Liverpool
L7 8XP
Medical and technical enquiries: 0151 706 4410
The BRU works closely with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Brucella Reference Laboratory, where all suspect culture isolates should be sent for confirmation. Cultures should only be sent after contact has been made with APHA using the phone number for the Brucella Reference Laboratory: 0330 041 6562.
Suspect cultures (or tissues) for dispatch to APHA must be packaged in accordance with the Health and Safety Executive specifications for Category B infectious substances (that is Packing Instruction 650 for transport standard UN3373), along with a completed Brucella culture referral form B1 to:
Brucella Reference Laboratory
Building 94
Animal and Plant Health Agency (Weybridge)
Woodham Lane
New Haw, Addlestone
Surrey
KT15 3NB
For further information on the referral of suspected Brucella cultures or clinical material, please contact the Brucella Reference Laboratory by email at: BrucellaGroup@apha.gov.uk or by telephone on 0330 041 6562
Guidance
Request forms
Last updated 16 June 2023 + show all updates
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Updated contact details.
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Added contact information for the Brucella Reference Laboratory and added link to new Brucella culture referral form.
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APHA laboratory telephone number updated
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Contact details for APHA Reference Laboratory updated.
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Added veterinary exposure document.
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First published.