Guidance

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:

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

Published 1 August 2014
Last updated 26 March 2024 + show all updates
  1. Removed service update.

  2. Updated list of RVPBRU services.

  3. Amended Important service update.

  4. Added notification of service delivery changes made to PHE reference and specialist laboratories to provide critical support to the COVID-19 incident.

  5. First published.

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