Useful: in patients where Whipple's disease may be suspected e.g. in those with diarrhoea, abdominal pain, weight loss and joint pains. More common in men than women.

Please collect or arrange to send:

Fresh tissue or FFPE (formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded) tissue (for Whipple's PCR): please send a minimum of four rolled sections (10µm) for FFPE tissue, but ideally 10 rolled sections is better incase the PCR extraction needs to be repeated. Do not send slides or blocks of tissue as these cannot be processed. 

Whole blood: for Whipple's PCR. When sending to the laboratory please mark clearly on request form: 'PLEASE DO NOT SPIN'.

PCR can also be done on CSF or duodenal biopsy.