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Pathology tests
Introduction
General information
This section contains common tests with their collection requirements. Tests are listed alphabetically as test
name (abbreviation), for example, Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP). Tests that must be collected at our collection
centres, due to special tubes or specific requirements (for example, centrifuging and freezing), are listed
as ‘Refer patient to collection centre’. If a patient instruction sheet is available, this will also be included in
collection requirements. A guide to the preferred temperature for specimen storage is available at the end of
the Pathology tests section.
Collection of patient specimens
Key points when collecting specimens for pathology, to help ensure an optimal result for your patient.
Check expiry dates of tubes or swabs.
Using tubes past their expiry date affects vacuum or additives.
Check that tubes are filled to the indicator mark.
Under- or overfilling tubes may lead to re-collections.
This is particularly critical for the INR on the citrate tube.
Vacutainer tubes are not designed for collection with a needle and syringe.
Forcing the needle
through the rubber stopper into the tube, combined with the vacuum in the tube, will damage the red cells
and may lead to spurious results and/or the need for a re-collection.
Transferring blood from one tube type to another
will also affect the results. For instance, abnormal
biochemistry results may be reported if the specimen is contaminated by anticoagulant from an EDTA or
citrate tube.
Labelling requirements for pathology specimens (NATA requirement)
All specimens must be labelled with:
The patient’s given name, surname, gender and date of birth.
The date and time of collection.
For any blood bank tests, for example, Blood group & Antibody screen, the signature or identifiable initials
of the collector must be on the tube.
If labelling requirements have not been met, testing may be affected and a re-collection may be required.
If testing includes a crossmatch, group and hold, blood group & antibody, genetic test or a prenatal screen,
and the request form information and specimens do not match, or only have incomplete information, the
laboratory will be unable to process these specimens. The patient’s blood will need to be re-collected and
labelled correctly.
Urgent/Emergency protocol
Requests for URGENT/EMERGENCY results need to be placed into a RED specimen bag (obtained from
stores/couriers). Please indicate which test(s) is/are urgent and the required result time on the request form in
the URGENT/EMERGENCY section.
To ensure that these results can be phoned, faxed or downloaded to you as soon as they are available, please
indicate, on the request form, your contact details for business hours and out-of-hours. If you require a result
within three hours of collection, laboratory notification is required. Contact the laboratory on (02) 9855 5400
with patient details and the time the result is required by. Special transport of specimen may be required.
Tests such as Troponin, Cardiac Enzymes, INR and BHCG are automatically treated as URGENT but should
be placed into red bags for Urgent specimen processing.