MRSA Home Test Kit in partnership with HCA Laboratories
This test detects the presence of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and sometimes evaluates the genetic characteristics of the strain.
MRSA is a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics. These include methicillin and related medicines like oxacillin, penicillin, and amoxicillin.
MRSA screening identifies colonised or infected individuals who can then be managed and to reduce the spread of MRSA to others.
Kit Contains:
‣ 2 charcoal swabs with patient details
‣ 1 biohazard bag with silver seal
‣ 1 absorbent sheet
‣ 1 box and security seal
‣ 1 patient details form
‣ 1 booklet
‣ 1 Royal Mail pre-paid return envelope to HCA Laboratories
£00.00
How to complete the MRSA Home Test
1. WASH YOUR HANDS & UNPACK YOUR KIT
Wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds using soap and water.
Unpack your kit on a clean and dry surface, and check if your kit contains all items
2. OPEN THE SWAB PACKAGE
The MRSA swab is taken from the nose and the groin – open the swab collection device by peeling back the outer packaging.
3. Twist off the tube cap and discard it
Remove the plastic transport tube from the packaging. Twist off the tube cap and discard it.
Note: the swabs should stay attached to the black swab holder at all times.
4. Complete the nasal swab
Insert only the white cotton tip into the nostril and not any further in.
Rotate the swab against the inside of each nostril for 3-5 seconds – slight pressure with a finger on the outside of the nose helps to assure good contact between the swab and the inside of the nose.
Using the same swab, repeat for second nostril.
5. CLOSE THE TRASNPORT TUBE securely
Place the swab into the plastic transport tube with the gel at the bottom.
Note: Please make sure the cap is pushed on tight.
5. REPEAT STEP 3 AND step 5 FOR THE GROIN
Using the second charcoal swab, repeat step 3 and 5 for the groin, and follow the return procedure.
Be careful not to touch the soft end of the swab on anything except for your nose and groin when completing the test.
Returning the Sample
1. After taking the nose and groin sample, place the charcoal swabs AND THE ABSORBANT SHEET into the biohazard bag AND Seal the biohazard bag.
2. PLACE THE BIOHAZARD BAG INSIDE THE BOX AND SEAL IT WITH THE SECURITY SEAL. PLACE THE BOX IN THE RETURN BAG, AND PLACE IT IN THE NEAREST POST BOX.
Still have questions?
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of bacteria that can’t be killed with common staph antibiotics, such as cephalexin. MRSA is usually limited to the skin. But it can be life-threatening if it spreads to the lungs, the bloodstream, or other organs.
The symptoms of a MRSA skin infection may include any of the below:
‣ Bump that is painful, red, leaking fluid, or swollen. It may look like a spider bite, pimple, or boil.
‣ Bumps under the skin that are swollen or firm
‣ Skin around a sore that is warm or hot
‣ Bump that gets bigger quickly or doesn’t heal
‣ Painful sore along with a fever
‣ Rash or fluid-filled blisters
‣ Boil or sore (abscess) that leaks fluid
Signs of a systemic infection include any of the above, plus:
‣ Fever
‣ Chills
‣ Severe headache
‣ Sleepiness
‣ Dizziness or fainting
MRSA screening tests may be requested when a doctor, hospital, or researcher wants to evaluate potential MRSA colonisation in an individual, their family members or a group of people in the community as the source of a MRSA infection.
Specific populations that have close contact such as residents of a nursing home or health care workers may be tested for MRSA carrier status when an increased number of infections occur within their close group.
MRSA screening may also be requested on a person who has been treated for an MRSA infection or for MRSA colonisation to determine whether MRSA is still present on the skin or wound site.
MRSA screening is also carried out before hospital elective surgery admissions and on emergency hospital admissions. Screening identifies colonised or infected individuals who can then be managed and to reduce the spread of MRSA to others.
- A sample is taken with a swab from the inside of your nose and the groin
- That sample is sent to a laboratory to check if MRSA is present.
- You will be informed within 72 to 96 hours about the outcome of the test.
‣ 2 charcoal swabs with patient details
‣ 1 biohazard bag with silver seal
‣ 1 absorbent sheet
‣ 1 box and security seal
‣ 1 patient details form
‣ 1 booklet
‣ 1 Royal Mail pre-paid return envelope to HCA Laboratories
Once the full instructions have been completed and the completed test placed in the pre paid return envelope, it should be posted via Royal Mail on the same day the test was taken ensuring collection that day.
We will aim to report results within up 96 hours of receiving the swab at the lab.
You'll get an email with your result when it's ready.
There are two types of result you can get:
‣ Detected
‣ Not Detected
If a stest result shows Detected, then the patient is a carrier.
If the the result shows Not Detected, then MRSA is either not present or is present in very low numbers.
If a molecular test confirms the presence of mecA in S. aureus then the organism is classified as MRSA.
Yes, being successfully treated for MRSA colonisation does not prevent you from getting it again.
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