Microbiology Information

Antibiogram

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Manual (For clinical laboratorians only)

Diagnosis of urinary tract infections (UTI) and the role of laboratory tests - Practice points

Stat tests:

  • Gram stains - results generally available within 1 hour of receipt at the testing laboratory
  • Edmonton zone hospitals - mark requisition as stat; include on requisition the name and telephone number of nursing unit or person to contact with results, submit properly labeled specimen and requisition to hospital laboratory
  • Outside Edmonton zone - Telephone microbiology department 800-661-9876; provide name of hospital/facility, name of patient, specimen type, test(s) requested, method of transport, name and telephone number of contact person

Turn around times (usual availability):

  • Routine cultures - preliminary results 1 day after receipt; antimicrobial susceptibility results 2 days after receipt; negative culture held for 2 - 10 days depending on specimen source
  • Anaerobic cultures - preliminary results 3 days after receipt; negative cultures held for 5 days
  • Fungal cultures - preliminary results 1 -2 days after receipt; negative cultures held for 4 weeks
  • Parasitology - ova and parasite examination within 2 days of receipt
  • Virology - dependent on reference laboratory - Alberta Health Services Edmonton zone or Provincial Laboratory for Public Health
  • Mycobacteriology - dependent on reference laboratory - Alberta Health Services Edmonton zone or Provincial Laboratory for Public Health