Contents
About Public Health England 2
Status of Microbiology Services Food, Water and Environmental Microbiology Methods 4
Amendment history 5
1.0. Introduction and purpose 6
2.0. Detection of incidents 7
3.0. Assessment of information 8
4.0. Communication and liaison with other agencies and staff 10
5.0. Procedure for dealing with detection of pathogens 12
6.0. Forwarding of samples or cultures 13
7.0. Additional considerations 14
8.0. Additional sources of information 15
9.0. Acknowledgements and contacts 16
Appendix 1. Symptoms and duration of illness for bacterial pathogens detected by the PHE FW&E microbiology laboratories 17
Appendix 2. Specialist reference services for food, water and environmental samples 18
Appendix 3. Submission of bacterial isolates from food water or environmental sample for reference tests 19
Appendix 4. PHE MS FW&E laboratories public health and testing algorithm 20
Appendix 5. Specialist food testing, communication and liaison with other agencies and health protection services staff 21