Shigella serotyping and biotyping
Registry Details
| Area | Health Science |
| Lab name | Enteric Reference Laboratory |
| Lab location | NCBID Wallaceville |
| Test name | Shigella serotyping and biotyping |
| Organisms | Shigella species |
| Requested for surveillance | yes |
| Notice required | no |
| Routine turnaround time | 10 days |
| Culture requirements | Pure culture |
| Media requirements | Nutrient agar slope |
| Pre-transport requirements | Ambient temperature |
| Transport requirements | Ambient temperature |
| Unacceptable sample types | Mixed cultures will not be tested |
| How results reported | The Shigella species and serotype identified is reported. For isolates of Shigella sonnei, a biotype is also reported based on biochemical reactions.Where PCR has been carried out the report will indicate the presence or absence of the vir A and ipai |
| Referral link | Form |
Description
The confirmation that the isolate is a Shigella species is done using a collection of biochemical tests in conjunction with serology. Serotyping is done using commercially available antisera. Where an organism cannot be confirmed as Shigella by biochemical and serological means a PCR is performed to detect the presence of the virA and ipaH virulence genes. These genes are associated with invasiveness in Shigella and also in enteroinvasive Escherichia coli.