Introduction of Microbiology and Serology Laboratory
Table of Contents
Here we are discussing not general microbiology but medical/clinical microbiology it is a discipline that encloses a wide range of testing methodologies, and it is complex in terms of organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites) and methods used to isolate and identify them. Although significant improvements in testing methodologies have been made, clinical microbiology remains heavily reliant on culture-based methods and phenotypic techniques for the identification of culture microbes. The wide variety of etiological agents/pathogens and testing methods that are available makes microbiological testing challenging, and therefore error detection and correction are important components of quality microbiology laboratory testing.
While the serology laboratory analyzes blood specimens for diseases of public health significance. A serology blood test is done to detect and measure the levels of antibodies as a result of exposure to a particular pathogen/microbe (bacteria or virus).

Microbiology and Serology Laboratory List of Tests, Specimen, and Testing Method
Name of Test | Specimen | Testing Method |
Acid-Fast bacilli(AFB) Smear Microscopy (2 samples) | Sputum (3-5 ml) | Microscopy |
Anti HCV Antibody Rapid/ Quick/Spot Test | Serum (1-2 ml) | Immunochromatogrphy |
Blood Culture and Sensitivity | Whole Blood (5 ml) | Microbiology |
Bordetella pertussis IgG | Serum (1-2 ml) | Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) |
Buccal smear | Swab ( 1 gm) | Flocculation method |
CHICKEN POX Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) IgG Antibodies | Serum (1-2 ml) | ELISA |
CHICKEN POX Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) IgM Antibodies | Serum (1-2 ml) | ELISA |
Chlamydia trachomatis Antibody Testing | Serum (1-2 ml) | ELISA |
Cryptococcus Antigen – Blood and CSF | Serum/CSF (1-2 ml) | Immunochromatography |
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)IgG Antibodies | Serum (1 ml) | ELISA |
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG & IgM Antibodies | Serum (1 ml) | ELISA |
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)IgM Antibodies | Serum (1 ml) | ELISA |
Dengue Fever Virus Antibodies, IgG & IgM (Quantitative) | Serum (1 ml) | ELISA |
Echinococcus Antibody, IgG | Serum (1 ml) | EIA |
Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) IgM and IgG antibodies Tests | Serum (1 ml) | ELISA |
HBsAg Rapid/Quick/spot Test | Serum (1 ml) | Immunochromatography |
H. Pylori Antigen Test | Serum (1 ml) | Immunochromatography/ ELISA |
Helicobacter pylori Antibodies, IgA | Serum (1 ml) | ELISA |
Helicobacter pylori Antibodies, IgG | Serum (1 ml) | ELISA |
Hepatitis A Virus (HAV)IgG & IgM Antibodies | Serum (1 ml) | CLIA |
Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) IgM Antibodies | Serum (1 ml) | CLIA |
Hepatitis B Core (HBC) Total Antibodies | Serum (1-2 ml) | CLIA |
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) Neutralization | Serum (1-2 ml) | CLIA |
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) Quantitative | Serum (1-2 ml) | CLIA |
Hepatitis B e-Antibody (HBeAb or Anti-HBe) Assay | Serum (2-3 ml) | CLIA |
Hepatitis B Envelope Antigen (HBeAg) Assay | Serum (2-3 ml) | CLIA |
Hepatitis B Core IgM antibody (anti-HBcIgM) Assay | Serum (1-2 ml) | CMIA |
Hepatitis Be Antigen and Antibody (HBeAg and HBeAb)Evaluation | Serum (1-2 ml) | CMIA |
Hepatitis C Antibody/( Anti-HCV) antibodies | Serum (1-2 ml) | CLIA |
Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) IgG Antibodies | Serum (1-2 ml) | CLIA |
Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) IgG Antibodies | Serum (1-2 ml) | CLIA |
Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) IgM Antibodies | Serum (1-2 ml) | EIA |
Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and/or 2 Antibodies, IgG & IgM | Serum (2-3 ml) | EIA |
HIV – DUO p24 Antigen & Antibody to HIV1 & 2 | Serum (1-2 ml) | CLIA |
HIV-1 RNA PCR, Quantitative | Blood (2-3 ml) in EDTA Tube (lavender-top) | Real-Time PCR |
HIV-1/HIV-2 Rapid Screen/Quick/Spot | Serum (1-2 ml) | Immunochromatography |
Recombinant K39 antigen for visceral leishmaniasis/ Indian kala-azar | Serum (1-2 ml) | Immunochromatography |
Potassium hydroxide (KOH)Mount for Fungus | Suspected specimen (nail, hair, skin scrapping) | Microscopy |
Mantoux test for Tuberculosis | Tuberculin vial (outside for injection)-0.1 ml of a liquid containing 5 TU | Intradermal test for Hypersensitivity |
Malarial Antibody | Serum (1-2 ml) | Immunochromatography |
Malaria parasite detection in blood smear | Blood (2-3 ml) in EDTA Tube (lavender-top) | Microscopy |
Typhoid IgG/IgM Combo Rapid Test | Serum (1-2 ml) | Immunochromatography |
Rubella Antibody, IgG | Serum (1-2 ml) | ELISA |
Rubella Antibody, IgM | Serum (1-2 ml) | ELISA |
Detection of group B streptococcal antigen | Serum (1-2 ml) | Latex Particle Agglutination |
Syphilis Antibody | Serum (1-2 ml) | ELISA |
Toxoplasma Antibody, IgG | Serum (1-2 ml) | ELISA |
Toxoplasma Antibody, IgM | Serum (1-2 ml) | ELISA |
TPHA | Serum (1-2 ml) | Immunoblotting |
Keynotes on Microbiology and Serology Laboratory
- ELISA stands for enzyme-linked immunoassay.
- CLIA stands for Chemiluminescence immunoassay.
- Microbiology is the branch of science that deals with microscopic organisms/microbes (bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites) and their interaction with other microscopic and macroscopic organisms.
- Serology has been used historically to confirm infections with microbes like bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites that are difficult to detect by other methods.
- Prions are abnormal, pathogenic agents that are transmissible and are able to induce abnormal folding of specific normal cellular proteins human prion diseases are Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI), and Kuru.
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