Guidance to access CDRN enhanced fingerprinting service
Updated 11 April 2024
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/clostridium-difficile-ribotyping-network-for-england-cdrne-enhanced-fingerprinting-service/guidance-to-access-cdrn-enhanced-fingerprinting-service
Step 1. Investigation scope
Assess your potential request against the criteria below for access to the enhanced fingerprinting service
- has Clostridioides difficile ribotyping service (CDRN) testing previously confirmed the presence of a dominant C. difficile ribotype, in time and space?
- has a declared ribotype-specific outbreak of C. difficile infection (CDI) been agreed with the local health protection unit?
- do you have a prescribed plan of how the results of C. difficile enhanced fingerprinting will contribute to the control of CDI?
Step 2. Requesting
Request enhanced fingerprinting (MLVA) directly from the CDRN team
Enhanced fingerprinting or multilocus variable tandem repeats analysis (MLVA) requesting is not available via the CDRN electronic requesting system (ERS).
Access to this service must be sought via the CDRN director Professor Mark Wilcox at mark.wilcox@nhs.net who will assess suitability. Epidemiological justification will be required.
Once access has been granted, an electronic test request form will be provided for users to complete. Work will then begin using archived ribotyping material held at the CDRN laboratory. No additional samples are required for this testing.
Step 3. Reporting
View enhanced fingerprinting results directly by email
CDRN will return an encrypted enhanced fingerprinting summary report to the user email accounts stated on the electronic test request form (step 2 above).