MRSA testing
What is MRSA?
MRSA stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. MRSA are varieties of Staphylococcus aureus that have developed resistance to methicillin (a type of antibiotic) and some other antibiotics that are used to treat infections.
Staphylococcus aureus is a common type of bacteria that is found on the skin and in the nostrils of about a third of healthy people. It can cause infections.
Why am I being screened for MRSA?
Some people carry MRSA on their skin or in their nostrils and are described as being colonised. People are unaware that they carry MRSA because it does not harm them and they have no symptoms.
MRSA can cause harm when it gets an opportunity to enter the body. This is more likely to happen in people who are already unwell or in patients undergoing operations. It can cause simple local infections such as pimples and boils, or more serious problems such as wound infections, chest infections or bloodstream infections (septicaemia).
We need to be aware of people who are colonised with MRSA in order to ensure the appropriate treatment is given BEFORE they come to hospital. This is why we screen patients before they come into hospital – to reduce the risk to themselves and others.
How will I be screened?
We will organise for swabs to be taken from the nose, axilla or groin. It takes about 24 hours to get the results and you will be informed if they are positive.
What happens if I test positive?
If you are to have an operation/procedure coming up, then you will be given treatment to clear the MRSA. Your operation may end up being postponed and a repeat negative MRSA test will be needed.
COVID-19 test
Depending on the facility where you are going to have your operation, either you will complete a COVID questionnaire upon arrival or you will need to do a test beforehand at home and bring a photo.
COVID test kits
We can provide a state of the art COVID-19 antigen test that will give a result in 15 minutes whilst you wait at the clinic. Alternatively, we can also send a testing kit to your home for testing via zoom, again it takes 15 minutes to get a result.
Key facts – in person clinic test
- – Rapid Antigen test (antigens are detectable earlier than antibodies)
- – Sample type – Nasopharyngeal swab
- – Result in 15 minutes
- – Fast, reliable and accurate detection of infection
- – Sensitivity 94.6%
- – Specificity 100%
- – cost-effective screening tool
- – NHS, Public Health England, MHRA approved
- – CE marking and certification
- – Has all relevant EN ISO standards conformity
- – EC declaration of conformity
- – Manufactured in the UK
Key facts – Home Test
- – Rapid Antigen test
- – Sample type – Nasopharyngeal swab
- – Result in 15 minutes
- – Fast, reliable and accurate detection of infection
- – Sensitivity 96.4%
- – Specificity 99.2%
- – cost-effective screening tool
- – Complete kit with all instructions and buffers
- – MHRA approved
- – CE marking and certification
- – EN ISO 13485:2016
- – Manufactured in Germany
If you wish to discuss further, please contact us. We can do same day clinic testing or delivery.
How it works
The test consists of a lateral flow immunoassay device. The sample is mixed in a buffer solution, which is added to the test strip. The buffer solution allows the sample to flow along the test strip, where it interacts with antibodies specific for the antigen.
If the COVID-19 antigens are present in the sample, the antibodies will bind to them, after which they will
flow along the strip and bind to a second set of antibodies which are fixed at defined locations on the test
strip. If the antigen is not present in the sample, then a reaction will occur at the Control Line (C), but no
reaction will occur at the Test Line (T). The test results are ready to be interpreted
Will the Rapid Antigen test detect the new variant?
Yes it does. The test detects the nucleocapid protein from SARS-CoV2. The mutations of the new variant are on the Spike protein. So the test will detect it still.
