Microbiology Laboratory

MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY

Department Director: Professor Federico Gobbi
Unit Chief: Dr Francesca Perandin
Coordinator: Donatella Piccoli

The Microbiology Laboratory carries out diagnostic investigations and monitoring of main infectious diseases. The laboratory is organized in specialized sectors for each of which was identified a referent who coordinates the activities. Part of activity is dedicated to research and development of methodological aspects for a continuous training in supporting the clinic.

The Laboratory occupies modern facilities equipped with spaces that use the most innovative instruments, also a high-level biocontainment laboratory for Group pathogens culture, able to allow the performing of traditional (e.g. cultural, serologic and molecular biology tests) and innovative diagnosis (MALDI-TOF and molecular characterization); then it ensures high-quality services, thanks also to the close cooperation with care and research activities.

The Laboratory is engaged to:

• Offer a range of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory services easily accesible and able to satisfy the patient’s needs.
• Offer super-specialized laboratory services
• Offer laboratory services regarding travel medicine
• Provide to professionals, both internal and external to the facility, diagnostic indications of basic importance for a correct clinic interpretation and therapeutic monitoring.
• Handle the professional training of staff through refresher courses.
• Provide to external professionals training courses to manage a basic laboratory for Tropical countries
• (training courses)
• Provide a service inspired by principles of management, services planning and providing quality and aimed at the continuous improvement.

WHERE

Bacteriology and Molecular Biology: ground floor Ospedale Sacro Cuore building – Entrance F
Parasitology Laboratory/Tropical Diseases, Molecular Biology, Virology and Emerging Pathogens: fourth floor Ospedale Don Calabria building

CONTACTS

• Switchboard: (+39).045.6013111
• Secretariat: Tel. (+39).045.6013324-3311

ACTIVITY

• Bacteriology, with diagnostic activity dedicated to bacterial (included Mycobacteria ones) and funginal infections, and active surveillance for the multi-resistant pathogens. This activity takes place also with periodic reports that relate the resistance of pathogens isolated from different materials.
• Parasitology, with identification activity of pathogens with traditional and molecular methods, and antibody research with enzymatic and immunofluorescence methods, as well as “immunoblot” tests. This ward carries out the serologic screening of blood donors, as screening and confirmatory tests for malaria and Chagas disease confirmatory test for the Transfusion Medicine Department of Verona’s Province. The Laboratory for several years is WHO reference center for strongyloidiasis and other intestinal parasitosis. Furthermore it sets preparations for an external firm which provides quality assessment (EQA) programmes.
• Virology and Molecular Biology, with investigations related to epatiti B and C virus (HBV, HCV with genotyping); plasma viral load HIV-RNA (and drug-resistance); research of bacterial agents responsible of sexually-transmitted diseases; research of viral and bacterial agents responsible of central nervous system infections; research of viral and bacterial agents responsible of respiratory infections, included SarsCov-2; research of viral agents and parasites responsible of tropical fevers; research of intestinal parasites (protozoa and helminths); research of hematic parasites (protozoa and helminths); research of infectious rare diseases pathogens.
• Emerging pathogens, with cross activity among sectors that mainly concerns the fine-tuning and validation of tests for diagnosis of infections by emerging and re-emerging pathogens for most of which commercial tests are not available, or are very limited, whose handling, for some of them, must be made in a high level of containment laboratory. Examples of emerging pathogens are zoonotic viruses, above all the vector-born ones, as Tick Borne Encephalitis, West Nile, Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika, the avian-influenza viruses, monkeypox viruses and others.

EXTERNAL USERS ACCESS

Sample Collection Center Access

Access only for specific services performed by Infectious and Tropical Diseases specialists

Normal sampling:

• Only for patients outside the Verona’s Province who need samplings for the Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Immigrants and Travel Clinic, the reception desk time is until 12.00pm from Monday to Friday at the Tropical Diseases Secretary, Ospedale Don Calabria building, sixth floor.

Only delivery of biological samplings and/or pick up of tests containers:

• Without booking from Monday to Friday 9.00am-12.00pm at the Tropical Diseases Secretary, Ospedale Don Calabria building, sixth floor.

Strongyloides stercoralis culture and microscopic research of hematic micro filaria

• Booking required dialing (+39).045 6013311 from Monday to Thursday 9.30am-11.00am

Notice and informed consent to preserve biological samples

The patient will be provided with a further notice and related consent, that are supplementary to the consent of personal data treatment, and concerns only the preservation of its own sample in surplus (after diagnostic examinations requested by physician or specialist physician) suitable for allowing both further examinations and treatment of data and information aimed at pursuing objectives of research in biomedical field (see here)

PROCEDURE FOR PICK UP OF MEDICAL REPORTS

• online using the specific procedure contained in the green note for picking up;
• at the Medical Reports Office or by the electronic device (TOTEM) both placed at the new Viale Rizzardi’s entrance, using the above procedure on the green note to pick up;
• on patient’s request and on payment of 1,00 € as postal fee, the tests may be sent by mail to home indicated by patient.
• the medical reports requested by other facilities are sent by mail; they may be forwarded by email-pdf encrypted, on request.