The National Centre for Mycology was established at the Provincial Laboratory of Public Health for Northern Alberta in Edmonton in April, 1983 under the auspices of Health and Welfare Canada and operated in conjunction with the Laboratory Centre for Disease Control in Ottawa.

Today, under the name Reference Mycology, the centre provides a variety of diagnostic tests, both routine and esoteric testing, which are not performed at all provincial health laboratories and also provides consultation, continuing education and research.

Services:

• Isolation and identification of causative agents of cutaneous, subcutaneous and systemic mycoses
• Examination of histopathological preparations of infected tissue
• Exoantigen tests to confirm identification of agents associated with infections in immunocompromised hosts
• DNA probes to confirm the identity of Coccidioides immitis, Blastomyces dermatitidis, and Histoplasma capsulatum
• Serological diagnosis
• Susceptibility testing of yeast and moulds according to NCCLS established or developing methods

Research Programs:

• Correlation of clinical outcomes of patients treated with antifungal agents and susceptibility test results
• Evaluation of commercial panels for yeast susceptibility testing
• Preparation of in-house antisera to fungal agents, especially to develop agents to perform serology for Fusarium infections
• Evaluation and standardization of methodologies for susceptibility testing of Nocardia species
• Evaluation of advanced identification methodologies

Continuing Education Programs:

• In keeping with the public health mandate, Reference Mycology is committed to continuing education programs

Contacts:

• Reference Mycology
  University of Alberta Hospitals
  2B4.51, 8440 - 112 Street
  Edmonton, Alberta
  Canada, T6G 2B7
  
  
• Jeffrey D. Fuller, PhD, FCCM, (D)ABMM
  Clinical Microbiologist, Clinical Assistant Professor
  University of Alberta Hospital
  Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
  2B3.13 Walter C. Mackenzie Centre
  8440 - 112 Street
  Edmonton, AB
  Canada T6G 2J2 Phone: (780)407-2767
  Fax: (780)407-3864
  email: jeff.fuller@albertahealthservices.ca

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• Crystal Sand, Technical Supervisor
  Phone: (780)407-8916
  Fax: (780)407-3864
  email: c.sand@provlab.ab.ca

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• Lynne Sigler, Taxonomy Consultant
  Curator and Professor, University of Alberta Microfungus Collection and Herbarium
  Phone: (780)987-4811
  Fax: (780)987-4141
  email: lynne.sigler@ualberta.ca

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