Division Laboratory criteria
United Kingdom
Laboratory criteria are a list of laboratory methods that are used to confirm a case. Usually only one of the listed tests will be enough to confirm the case. If a combination of methods is needed to meet the laboratory confirmation, this is specified. The type of specimen to be collected for the laboratory tests is only specified when only certain specimen types are considered relevant for the confirmation of a diagnosis. Laboratory criteria for a probable case are included for some agreed exceptional cases. Those laboratory criteria consist of a list of laboratory methods which can be used to support the diagnosis of a case but which are not confirmatory.