Microbiology
Learn about the microbiology services we offer.

Test directory and collection information
For a complete, up-to-date test menu, with relevant test information, specimen collection requirements, lab requisitions, ordering information, storage, preservation, and transport guidelines, please visit:
See Microbiology Test Menu for STAT microbiology tests and expected turnaround times.
Microbiology Sample Collection Container Guide
Blood cultures
Cerebrospinal fluid
Infectious Diarrhea Panel Collection/Ordering Guidance Documents:
Vaginitis & Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Collection/Ordering Guidance Documents:
Influenza Season and Respiratory Specimen Information:
Sexually Transmitted Infections/Vaginitis Testing
- Multitest Clinician Vaginal Collection for IH Clinicians
- Unisex Swab Specimen Collection IH Clinicians
- To learn more about collection and ordering for vaginitis and sexually transmitted infections, click on the Ordering guidance for health-care providers drop down above
Stool
- Copan FecalSwab
- To learn more about collection and ordering for Infectious Diarrhea Panel and C. difficile testing, click on the Ordering guidance for health-care providers drop down above
Urine
Routine culture for non-critical specimens (superficial wounds, superficial ear, eye, nose, throat, genital sites)
- Okanagan area only, NOT for deep wounds, ARO screening or OR/DI swabs:
- Outside Okanagan area, or if deep wound, ARO screen or OR/DI swab:
- Copan (M40) gel swab
Nasopharyngeal swab for respiratory pathogen testing
Dermatophytes
Sexually Transmitted Infections/Vaginitis Testing
Sputum
Stool
- Stool for Culture: Sample Collection using FecalSwab™
- Stool for Molecular Parasite Panel using FecalSwab™
- Stool for Clostridium difficile (Cdiff)
- Stool for Helicobacter Pylori
- Stool for Ova and Parasites
Urine
IH Laboratory Requisition Requirements Job Aid
Information to include on the requisition and specimen label:
- Specimen source/collection site and/or fluid type
- Sequence number of sample collected if required (e.g., #1, #2, etc.)
Information to include on the requisition only:
- Current patient Antibiotic Therapy
- Any pertinent information: previous diagnosis, suspected diagnosis, suspected causative agent
Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns
Interior Health prepares an antibiogram annually, which summarizes bacterial susceptibility patterns for IH. In addition to reviewing the patient’s microbiology history, this document can assist clinicians in choosing appropriate empiric antibiotic therapy when rapid intervention is needed.
Medical microbiologist consultation
Medical Microbiologists provide consultation to clinical staff:
- For both inpatient and outpatients
- Infection Prevention and Control
- Antimicrobial stewardship
Contact the Medical Microbiologist on call for phone consultation 24/7.
IH microbiology
Lab |
Region |
Hours of Operation |
Lab Phone Number |
East Kootenay Regional Hospital |
East Kootenay Region |
Mon-Fri 0730 – 2100 Sat/Sun/STATS 0730 – 1630 |
250-489-6442 |
Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital |
West Kootenay Region |
Mon-Fri 0800 – 2130 Saturdays 0800 – 1720 Sundays/STATS 0800 – 1630 |
250-364-3401 |
Kelowna General Hospital |
Okanagan Region, Princeton, Revelstoke, and Salmon Arm |
24/7 service |
250-862-4300 ext 27508 |
Royal Inland Hospital |
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap |
0700 – 2100 7 days a week |
250-314-2100 ext 19666 |
Contact the medical microbiologist on call for any specimen inquiries.
What’s new in microbiology?
Important lab updates:
- Oct. 9, 2025: Expansion of Fungal Culture Testing at Kelowna General Hospital Laboratory: Okanagan Region, Revelstoke and Salmon Arm
- Sept. 22, 2025: Pneumocystis jirovecii PCR testing will now be performed at KGH
- Sept. 11, 2025: Discontinuation of SPS Vacutainer Tube
- Sept. 8, 2025: Change in procedure for free-living amoebae diagnostic testing
- July 9 2025: New Molecular Assay for Measles - Acute Care
- July 9, 2025: New Molecular Assay for Measles – UPCC outpatients
- June 30, 2025: Outpatient Measles Test Requests
- May 1, 2025: Measles Ordering Panel
- March 26, 2025: Update to the Meditech Test Dictionary - Infectious Diarrhea Testing
- March 3, 2025: Update to the Meditech Test Dictionary - Vaginitis and STI Testing
- Feb. 25, 2025: Interior Health Antibiogram
Helpful links
- A Guide to Utilization of the Microbiology Laboratory for Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases (2018 Update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the American Society for Microbiology)
- BCCDC eLab Handbook
- BC Provincial Infectious Diarrhea Guidelines for Investigation
- BC Provincial Guidelines for investigation of Urinary Tract Infections in Primary Care Setting
- Bugs & Drugs
- Bugs & Drugs App
- Interior Health Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Guidelines and Clinical Practices Standards (IH network access required to view)


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