Microbial Genomics

The Pathogen Genomics and Surveillance Unit is located within PathWest laboratories on the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre site.  The unit offers public and environmental health microbiology services, and includes a Pathogen Genomics Service, a National Influenza Centre and the Arbovirus Surveillance and Research Laboratory. The unit is actively engaged in translational research activities with partner academic institutions. 

The unit provides pathogen genomics for public and environmental health purposes, together with hospital clinical services and industry, encompassing foodborne, waterborne, hospital-based, respiratory and gastrointestinal pathogens.  Single pathogen bacterial and viral identification and characterisation, phylogenetic analysis for genomic relatedness between pathogens, and pathogen discovery services are provided. 

The Microbial Surveillance Unit works closely with the Mosquito Borne Diseases Control unit for arbovirus detection in humans, animals and mosquitoes for the state-wide mosquito-borne disease surveillance program, and with the WA Health Communicable Diseases Control Directorate for clinical and environmental (wastewater) laboratory surveillance of influenza, SARS-CoV-2, other respiratory viruses, and other vaccine-preventable diseases.  

Download the Molecular Typing Request Form here.

The Microbiology Typing Laboratory situated at Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) offers state-wide services for molecular characterisation, typing, clustering/relatedness of Staphylococcus aureus (both MRSA and MSSA), Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE), Candida auris, Neisseria gonorrhoea, and other organisms causing outbreaks, for both public and private hospitals.

To access services offered by the FSH Microbiology Typing Laboratory, please download the request form FSH Molecular Typing Request Form here.