Active Vitamin B12 (holotranscobalamin)
The Nutristasis Unit now provides the new Active B12 (holotranscobalamin) marker and GSTS is the first provider in the UK to offer it outside the research environment.
The majority (up to 80%) of serum vitamin B12 is not bio-available. Current assays measure total vitamin B12 which leads to a grey area where deficient patients can be missed - there is a poor correlation between circulatory total B12 and B12 status at the tissue level. Conversely patients can inappropriately be classified to a deficient state with the inconvenience and expense of long term supplementation regimes.
The cost of this assay will only be slightly more than a standard serum B12 assay. It will complement GSTS' serum methylmalonic acid assay which is a functional marker of B12 at the tissue level that GSTS is the only service in the UK to offer.
Those wishing to be tested must attend the phlebotomy department at St Thomas' Hospital with a signed letter from their GP requesting the test.
For more information on the Active B12 (holotranscobalamin) test at GSTS, contact John Roberts on 0207 188 1250 or visit the Axis-Shield website or read more on our Testimonials page.
Clostridium difficile
The Infection and Immunology department at GSTS is introducing a new screening protocol for Clostridium difficile from 1 September. The new protocol offers improved sensitivity and specificity through utilisation of state of the art molecular confirmation of toxigenic strains.
Next Generation Sequencing
The DNA laboratory is developing assays using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to screen for heterogeneous genetic disorders. These assays can be used to test a large number of genes simultaneously, thereby avoiding sequential gene testing. This will significantly improve the speed and reduce the overall cost of the molecular investigations of these disorders, for which complete testing was not previously available.
C.Difficile Molecular Gene Expert Assay
The Infection and Immunology labs have recently introduced the C.Difficile Molecular Gene Expert Assay which increases assay sensitivity and clinical relevance. This enables effective infection control and compliance with national targets.
Rapid TB molecular assay
Infection Sciences now offer the Cepheid GeneXpert MTB/RIF rapid molecular test that simultaneously identifies Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MTB) and resistance to rifampicin (RIF). A 24 hour turnaround time is available for this test which can be performed on smear positive respiratory samples.
