HCG Tumour Marker Testing
September 26, 2024
From 1st October 2024, Pathlab will begin testing HCG tumour marker requests. Pathlab uses a Beckman Coulter analyser while Waikato Hospital Laboratory uses a Roche analyser for hCG testing. Both of these hCG assays are validated as tumour marker hCG assays1. Historically, all requests for tumour marker hCG were to be referred to Waikato hospital to ensure the same assay is used for monitoring…
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Post Vasectomy Semen Analysis
September 09, 2024
Effective Monday 9th of September, we will be working in accordance with the 2016 British Andrology Society laboratory guidelines for post-vasectomy semen analysis. 2016 PVSA Guidelines This will see a change to only performing a direct microscopy and proceed with a sperm count when only non-motile sperm are seen. There will be no centrifuged spun deposit examination. As with our current seminal…
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STI Screening e-order tab
August 06, 2024
Over recent months we have seen increasing instances of STI associated e-ordering leading to incorrect specimen collected, incorrect testing, and the need for specimen recollects. Investigation has shown the underlying causes to be multifactorial but one of the primary causes has been the inability to request chlamydia/gonorrhoea/trichomonas testing from multiple body sites at the same time. After…
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Respiratory Virus Community Testing
July 10, 2024
With the winter season upon us and the associated increase in respiratory virus circulation we would like to provide updated guidance on diagnostic testing. This is tempered by the fact that funding for this type of testing is limited and must be targeted at the most sick and vulnerable patient populations primarily those requiring hospitalisation. What this means in the community is that testing…
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Community Blood Culture bottle supply issue
June 24, 2024
Please be aware that due to manufacturing problems internationally, there is currently an issue with the supply of blood culture bottles. This is completely outside our control, but it may mean that we will receive marginally less than our normal allocation of bottles for distribution for at least the next three months. Consequently, it is important that good diagnostic stewardship is practiced…
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