Introduction

Public Health Wales Microbiology Services are provided from laboratories in Aberystwyth, Bangor, Bridgend, Cardiff (University Hospital of Wales and Llandough sites), Carmarthenshire (Carmarthen and Llanelli sites), Rhyl and Swansea. They provide laboratory, clinical and scientific support that underpins communicable disease diagnosis and management.

This includes:

laboratory diagnostic services to hospitals and general practioners
leadership of hospital infection control programmes
involvement in regional and national surveillane programmes
assistance to Health Protection Teams in relation to outbreaks and community infection control

In addition to these general functions Public Health Wales laboratories provide:

All-Wales and UK specialist and reference facilities. These are:
- Food, Water and Environmental (FWE) Services (Bangor, Cardiff, Carmarthen and Rhyl)
- Welsh Haemophilus Unit (Bangor)
- IM&T development (Carmarthen)
- Giardia and Cyclospora (Swansea and Aberystwyth)
- Welsh Infectious Diseases Molecular Diagnostics Unit (Cardiff and Swansea)
- Wales Specialist Virology Centre (Cardiff)
- Wales Centre for Mycobacteria (Cardiff)
- National Anaerobe Reference Laboratory (ARL) (Cardiff)
- National Cryptosporidium Reference Laboratory (Swansea)
- National Toxoplasma Reference Unit (Swansea)
A source of medical and scientific advice and support for colleagues in NHS laboratories.

Last updated: 22/04/2010