Guidance to help NHS colleagues access Clostridioides difficile ribotyping via the CDRN laboratory
Updated 6 January 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/clostridium-difficile-ribotyping-service-how-to-access/guidance-to-help-nhs-colleagues-access-clostridioides-difficile-ribotyping-via-the-cdrn-laboratory
Step 1. Requesting
Request ribotyping using the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Clostridioides difficile ribotyping network (CDRN) electronic requesting system (ERS). A full user manual is available on the system (under the Help menu) for support when making service requests.
Check in case a colleague in your hospital already has access to the ERS. If not, contact laboratoryinformatics@ukhsa.gov.uk for support.
Step 2. Referral of samples
Send C. difficile toxin-positive faecal samples or C. difficile isolates to the CDRN laboratory.
Each faecal specimen or bacterial isolate submitted to the CDRN laboratory must be accompanied by the completed request form PDF generated by the ERS.
Original faecal specimens should be retained locally – only an aliquot should be referred for ribotyping – CDRN discard all processed samples according to policy.
Faecal sample aliquots should be sent in containers consistent with that used for local microbiological analysis of faeces. C. difficile isolates should be sent on Amies transport swabs with or without charcoal.
Material should be packaged and shipped appropriately according to International Air Transport Association (IATA) packaging instructions 650 for UN3373 (Category B biological substances).
For support, please refer to the Yorkshire and the Humber Public Health Laboratory: user handbook.
Samples should be sent to:
UKHSA Microbiology Services CDRN Laboratory
Department of Microbiology
Centre for Laboratory Medicine, Block 065
St James’s University Hospital
Leeds LS9 7TF
DX6281505
Leeds 91LS
Step 3. Results
View ribotyping results on the CDRN ERS when available.
CDRN ERS will autogenerate notification emails to registered account users at the following stages:
1. Request submission.
2. Specimen receipt at laboratory.
3. Result availability.