Clinical Microbiology and Molecular Virology
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
The Delaware Public Health Laboratory Clinical Microbiology section tests clinical samples taken from blood, urine, cervix, urethra or spinal fluid for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) using amplified DNA methods. The section tests for and performs the typing of certain species of bacterial isolates by pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for epidemiologic investigation. Other testing performed includes shigatoxin, antimicrobial susceptibility (for antimicrobial resistance surveillance) and serotyping of salmonella, shigella and Neisseria meningitidis. Tuberculosis (mycobacteriology) testing is performed for recovery, identification and drug susceptibility testing of acid fast bacilli (AFB). Parasitology is performed for the examination for amoeba and other gastro-intestinal parasites in feces.
MOLECULAR VIROLOGY
The Delaware Public Health Laboratory Molecular Virology section performs testing for viruses using living host systems to isolate viruses and serological procedures to identify viral infections. Sample sources include autopsy, biopsy, blood, CSF,cervix, eye, skin, lesion, throat, urine, stool or other body fluids. The Molecular Virology section also performs syphilis testing by RPR, VDRL and MHATP. Testing includes the following: HIV-1 (which includes rapid testing at state service centers), herpes, hepatitis, West Nile and other arboviruses, rabies and influenza.
