RVPBRU: reference and diagnostic services
Respiratory and vaccine preventable bacteria reference unit (RVPBRU), provides national and international reference laboratory services.
RVPBRU is part of UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)’s bacteria reference department (BRD) and provides reference laboratory services for a number of bacteria causing respiratory, systemic and vaccine preventable bacterial infections.
RVPBRU is made up of 2 sections:
- respiratory and systemic bacterial section
- vaccine preventable bacterial section
RVPBRU services
RVPBRU provides national reference facilities for many respiratory, systemic and vaccine-preventable bacterial associated bacteria, including:
- legionella
- mycoplasma and ureaplasma
- Bordetella pertussis and other bordetella
- pneumococci (Streptococcus pneumoniae)
- toxigenicity testing of Corynebacterium diphtheriae and other potentially toxigenic corynebacteria
- Haemophilus influenzae
RVPBRU also offers serodiagnostic testing for:
- diphtheria immunity or vaccination studies
- tetanus immunity
- Bordetella pertussis
RVPBRU receives bacterial isolates and clinical samples which are analysed by a wide range of methodologies in accordance with customer needs and also performs surveillance and advises on incident and outbreak investigation.
For more information on RVPBRU services and contact details refer to the BRD user manual.
RVPBRU forms
Respiratory and systemic bacteria section request form: R1
Vaccine preventable bacteria section request form: R3
Contact
RVPBRU
UK Health Security Agency
61 Colindale
London
NW9 5EQ
To email individuals use: firstname.surname@ukhsa.gov.uk
Telephone 020 8327 7887
DX address UKHSA Colindale Bacteriology, DX 6530002
Updates to this page
Last updated 26 March 2024 + show all updates
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Removed service update.
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Updated list of RVPBRU services.
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Amended Important service update.
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Added notification of service delivery changes made to PHE reference and specialist laboratories to provide critical support to the COVID-19 incident.
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First published.