This consultation is for laboratory and healthcare professionals. It is not intended for patients or members of the public to complete.
For people living with, or at risk of, fungal lung disease, getting the right diagnosis can take time. Symptoms may overlap with other respiratory conditions, and the answer can depend on how a respiratory sample is investigated in the laboratory.
A new proposed UK laboratory standard aims to help make that process more consistent. UK SMI B63, Investigation of samples for lower respiratory tract infections caused by fungal pathogens, is the first UK Standard for Microbiology Investigation dedicated specifically to fungal pathogens in lower respiratory tract samples.
It covers the practical pathway from sample to result: choosing and processing appropriate respiratory samples, and using laboratory approaches such as microscopy, culture and molecular testing, including PCR.
Better and more consistent investigation cannot guarantee an immediate diagnosis or the right treatment for every person. However, it can help laboratories recognise clinically important fungi, report results in a useful way, and give clinical teams better information on which to base treatment decisions.
This is especially important for conditions such as aspergillosis, where delayed recognition can mean prolonged symptoms, uncertainty and repeated courses of treatment that may not address the underlying problem.
The public consultation is an opportunity for laboratory scientists, microbiologists, mycologists, respiratory clinicians, infectious-disease clinicians and other relevant professionals to help make sure the final standard is practical and reflects real NHS laboratory and clinical services.
The consultation closes on 1 September 2026.
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