Written Question · S2W-23436 · Session 2
For which infectious diseases diagnostic tests are not carried out in Scotland; how many samples were sent out of the country in each of th…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive for which infectious diseases diagnostic tests are not carried out in Scotland; how many samples were sent out of the country in each of the last five years in respect of each such disease, and what the cost of sampling each type of disease was in each of the last five years.
The answer
The table gives an outline of tests supplied to Scotland by the Health Protection Agency in England in the last three years. That is as far back as the information is available. For ease of comparison some organism tests have been grouped together e.g. Parvovirus because the type of testing has changed over the course of the three years reflecting changes in laboratory techniques. The vast majority of these tests are not primary diagnostic methods but confirmatory tests, additional typing tests following primary isolation (usually as part of an enhanced surveillance programme) or further identification requested where the local referring laboratory has had problems with identification. These services are for the most part provided for the whole of the UK because there is insufficient demand to warrant separate services in all four countries.
The primary diagnostic tests not provided in Scotland , included in the list below are, C.Botulinum toxin, Bartonella toxin, S aureus toxin detection (related to food poisoning).
Laboratory
|
| 2002-03
No. of Tests
| 2003-04
No. of Tests
| 2004-05
No. of Tests
Food safety Microbiology laboratory
| Bacillus sp
| 11
| 4
| 41
C Botulinum toxin
| 7
| 12
| 6
C Botulinum culture
| 0
| 0
| 4
Clostridium sp
| 16
| 7
| 28
Listeria species
| 0
| 0
| 2
L monocytogenes
| 17
| 8
| 63
Staph aureus
| 62
| 0
| 0
Sub total cost
| £5,096
| £5,783
| £ 9,366
Respiratory and Systemic Infection Laboratory
| Diphtheria antitoxin
| 5
| 7
| 4
Bartonella serology
| 130
| 59
| 126
Tetanus serology
| 7
| 12
| 28
Legionella pneumophila serology
| 1
| 0
| 0
Mycoplasma serology/culture
| 2
| 0
| 1
Haemophilus influenzae typing
| 46
| 50
| 21
Streptococcal typing / speciation
| 0
| 3
| 50
Sub total cost
| £7,937.75
| £6,961
| £9,937.74
Enteric, Respiratory and Neurological Virus laboratory
| Influenza strain typing
| 45
| 46
| 3
Poliovirus serology
| 4
| 7
| 6
SRSV PCR/NLV PCR
| 168
| 2
| 0
Parvovirus B19
| 55
The primary diagnostic tests not provided in Scotland , included in the list below are, C.Botulinum toxin, Bartonella toxin, S aureus toxin detection (related to food poisoning).
Laboratory
|
| 2002-03
No. of Tests
| 2003-04
No. of Tests
| 2004-05
No. of Tests
Food safety Microbiology laboratory
| Bacillus sp
| 11
| 4
| 41
C Botulinum toxin
| 7
| 12
| 6
C Botulinum culture
| 0
| 0
| 4
Clostridium sp
| 16
| 7
| 28
Listeria species
| 0
| 0
| 2
L monocytogenes
| 17
| 8
| 63
Staph aureus
| 62
| 0
| 0
Sub total cost
| £5,096
| £5,783
| £ 9,366
Respiratory and Systemic Infection Laboratory
| Diphtheria antitoxin
| 5
| 7
| 4
Bartonella serology
| 130
| 59
| 126
Tetanus serology
| 7
| 12
| 28
Legionella pneumophila serology
| 1
| 0
| 0
Mycoplasma serology/culture
| 2
| 0
| 1
Haemophilus influenzae typing
| 46
| 50
| 21
Streptococcal typing / speciation
| 0
| 3
| 50
Sub total cost
| £7,937.75
| £6,961
| £9,937.74
Enteric, Respiratory and Neurological Virus laboratory
| Influenza strain typing
| 45
| 46
| 3
Poliovirus serology
| 4
| 7
| 6
SRSV PCR/NLV PCR
| 168
| 2
| 0
Parvovirus B19
| 55
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-23436 by reference.