Culture section
On this page
The culture section provides a comprehensive diagnostic bacteriology service.
Based at Raigmore Hospital (Inverness).
Important: Contact
Phone
phone 01463 704 206
Availability:
- Monday to Friday: 9.00am to 5.30pm (core hours)
- Saturday and public holidays: 9.00am to 4.30pm (limited service)
- Sunday: on-call service (urgent samples only)
- outside of these hours: on-call service
Use the Raigmore Hospital switchboard for these contacts:
- for urgent bacterial culture samples - ask for the On-call Biomedical Scientist
- for clinical advice - ask for the On-call Consultant
email nhsh.microbiology@nhs.scot
This generic email address should not be used for urgent clinical or non-routine enquiries. Please phone the laboratory instead.
We cannot offer clinical advice directly by email to patients.
Key personnel and services provided
- Clinical lead: Dr Mary Peirse
- Microbiology Service Manager: Dr Joanne Smullen
Samples and turn-around times are accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS):
- Issue date: 10/06/2025
- UKAS Medical Laboratories 9612 (accredited to ISO 15189:2022)
Users will be informed if an assay/result lies outside of the laboratory’s scope of accreditation.
Patient information
Microbiology laboratory
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Microbiology laboratory
Including toxoplasmosis, Lyme disease and tick-borne infections, and a culture section.
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Lyme disease and tick-borne infections
Scottish Lyme Disease and Tick-borne infections Reference Laboratory (SLDTRL).
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Toxoplasmosis
Scottish Toxoplasma Reference Laboratory (STRL).
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Culture section
The culture section provides a comprehensive diagnostic bacteriology service.
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How to collect a sample of poo (stool sample)
A doctor may ask you to collect a poo sample if you have symptoms that need checking.