Oral Microbiology Tests

Description: 
Oral swabs and saliva for candida counts.
Clinical details: 
Swabs for microbiological analysis help to differentiate the causes of angular cheilitis and dento-alveolar abscesses. Candida species are commensals of the mouth. However, quantitating the amount of candida in saliva samples helps define whether patients have candidiasis.
Synonyms or keywords: 
Oral candidiasis, angular cheilitis, dento-alveolar abscess
Department: 
Infection Sciences Department
Location: 
St Thomas' Hospital
Sample type and Volume required: 
Microbiological swab; 5-10ml saliva in Universal Container for candida counts.
Turnaround time: 
5 days
Criteria for acceptance / rejections of sample
Storage and transport: 
Place labelled sample in a sealed sample bag and send to Central Specimen Reception (CSR). Samples should be refrigerated if transport to the laboratory is delayed.
Contacts:
Infection Sciences Department at St Thomas' Hospital
020 7188 8008
St Thomas' Hospital
North Wing - 5th Floor
Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7EH
Core opening hours: Monday-Friday 0900-1730


For clinical advice or interpretation of results, please contact the laboratory in the first instance.
Laboratory: 
Microbiology Laboratory at St Thomas'

Print as a PDF

Last updated: 01/10/2020