Pathology Specimen Handbook

Please note recent change in test code to ATS13A (and ATS13AU for urgent requests) 16.10.23.

Attached form to accompany all ADAMTS-13 activity requests.

https://monashpathology.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/FOR-HE-147.pdf

Non CMBS test

Please note recent change in test code to ATS13A (and ATS13AU for urgent requests) 16.10.23.

Attached form to accompany all ADAMTS-13 activity requests.

https://monashpathology.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/FOR-HE-147.pdf

Non-CMBS test - $185 for a routine test, $350 if an urgent (same day) result is required.

Medication Profile

Notify the laboratory if the test is urgent as this test is now referred to an external provider.

Please note that for coeliac serology, only TTG antibodies testing will be performed. Further EMA testing will automatically be performed by the laboratory, if indicated, based on the TTG antibodies result. If you wish to specifically request EMA testing, please liaise with the laboratory directly.

Please note that for coeliac serology, only TTG antibody testing will be performed. Further DGP testing will be performed by the laboratory if the TTG antibody result is indeterminate due to an IgA deficiency. If you wish to specifically request DGP antibodies, please liaise with the laboratory directly.

This test is not covered by the Medicare Benefits Schedule.  The patient will be responsible for the cost of the test.

A "Consent for Payment" form must be signed by the patient before collection (Form FOR-CN-96).  Please note:  This consent form is not required for "Hospital In-Patients".

Contact Immunology 9594 3587 for further information.

(a) Preferred collection time is 3-4 hrs post injection / tablet - consult with clinical haematologist

(b) MANDATORY: Please note heparin type on request slip

(a) Preferred collection time is 3-4 hrs post injection / tablet - consult with clinical haematologist

(b) MANDATORY: Please note heparin/anti-Xa type on request slip

Sample MUST be delivered to the laboratory BEFORE 11AM as it  is required to be delivered the same day.

A NORMAL CONTROL blood, not the patients' blood, must also be collected and sent with the patient blood clearly labled as NORMAL CONTROL BLOOD.

Please note that this is an appointment only test, and must be discussed with the Immunopathologist On-call prior to request. 

Sample MUST be delivered to the laboratory BEFORE 11AM as it  is required to be delivered the same day.

A HEALTHY CONTROL blood, not the patients' blood, must also be collected and sent with the patient blood clearly labled as HEALTHY CONTROL BLOOD, as per further instructions from the laboratory. 

Obtain a National Dementia Diagnostics Laboratory (NDDL)
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Specimen Data Sheet form and CJD tube from Microbiology Clayton.

A miminum volume of 2.5ml is required. 

CSF must be clear and colourless and NOT spun

Specimen requirements for gene testing are listed under PRION PROTEIN GENE testing.

A miminum volume of 2.5ml is required. 

CSF must be clear and colourless and NOT spun

Specimen requirements for gene testing are listed under PRION PROTEIN GENE testing.

Please note that for coeliac serology, only TTG antibody testing will be performed, with further antibody testing to be performed by the laboratory, based on the result. If you wish to specifically request  DGP or EMA antibodies, please liaise with the laboratory directly.   

Clayton: Biochemistry will arrange warm  tubes to be brought to the patient.  Contact the laboratory prior to collection.  Sample collection is only available between 8AM and 2:30PM on weekdays due to staff availability.  

Other sites: Collect the warm esky with the required specimen tubes from the incubator in the laboratory. On return of the samples, give the esky to the clerical staff to arrive. The samples must be returned to the incubator to clot for 2 hours prior to being processed according to the method document TEC-BC-22                     

Collections are available Monday to Friday only.

Not suitable as a pre registration request.

Adults: pre warmed 10 mL serum no gel and  pre warmed10mL EDTA tubes required.

Paed: 2 x 2mL serum no gel and 2 x 2mL EDTA tubes required.

Includes cryoglobulin and cryofibrinogen.

Clayton: Biochemistry will arrange warm  tubes to be brought to the patient.  Contact the laboratory prior to collection.  Sample collection is only available between 8AM and 2:30PM on weekdays due to staff availability.  

Other sites: Collect the warm esky with the required specimen tubes from the incubator in the laboratory. On return of the samples, give the esky to the clerical staff to arrive. The samples must be returned to the incubator to clot for 2 hours prior to being processed according to the method document TEC-BC-22                     

Collections are available Monday to Friday, 8AM to 2:30PM only.

Not suitable as a pre registration request.

Adults: pre warmed 10 mL serum no gel and  pre warmed10mL EDTA tubes required.

Paed: 2 x 2mL serum no gel and 2 x 2mL EDTA tubes required.

Includes cryoglobulin and cryofibrinogen.

Clayton: Biochemistry will arrange warm  tubes to be brought to the patient.  Contact the laboratory prior to collection.     

Other sites: Collect the warm esky with the required specimen tubes from the incubator in the laboratory. On return of the samples, give the esky to the clerical staff to arrive. The samples must be returned to the incubator to clot for 2 hours prior to being processed according to the method document TEC-BC-22                     

Collections are available Monday to Friday only.

Not suitable as a pre registration request.

Adults: pre warmed 10 mL serum no gel and  pre warmed10mL EDTA tubes required.

Paed: 2 x 2mL serum no gel and 2 x 2mL EDTA tubes required.

Includes cryoglobulin and cryofibrinogen.

Clayton: Biochemistry will arrange warm  tubes to be brought to the patient.  Contact the laboratory prior to collection.  Sample collection is only available between 8AM and 2:30PM on weekdays due to staff availability.  

Other sites: Collect the warm esky with the required specimen tubes from the incubator in the laboratory. On return of the samples, give the esky to the clerical staff to arrive. The samples must be returned to the incubator to clot for 2 hours prior to being processed according to the method document TEC-BC-22                     

Collections are available Monday to Friday only.

Not suitable as a pre registration request.

Adults: pre warmed 10 mL serum no gel and  pre warmed10mL EDTA tubes required.

Paed: 2 x 2mL serum no gel and 2 x 2mL EDTA tubes required.

Includes cryoglobulin and cryofibrinogen.

This a send-out test to Queensland Pathology.

This is a send-out test

Note that this test is not MBS rebatable.

2x Tubes must be collected

This is a send-out test that requires the following steps:

1. Must screen with lactate gap first.

- Perform Paired Whole Blood Lactate on both ABL825 (Big Analyser) and ABL90 (Small Analyser) Blood Gas Analyser

- If ethylene glycol is present, ABL825 will give a falsely high lactate result compared to ABL90.

Test will only be sent if lactate gap is present.

2. Contact clinical toxicologist for approval.

- Name and contact details of the approving toxicologist and ordering clinician must be provided on the request slip.

3. If urgent sendout is required, contact Chemical Pathologist/Registrar.

Specimen required: 2x EDTA tubes (Purple Top). 

Factor XIII (F13) Non CMBS test

Factor XIII (F13) Non-CMBS test - $145

All serology tests require a dedicated serum tube

Retesting is not required within 7 days.

Please contact the Microbiology Depeartment (44565) when a Gastric Aspirate for Mycobacterial studies is being collected as the sample must be processed within 2 HOURS of collection.

Unsable Haemoglobin / Unstable Hb / Isopropanol Precipitation Test

(a) Tests must be booked with Special Haematology lab PH 9594 3490.

(b) Samples must be collected on Mon - Thurs (preferably AM). DO NOT collect blood for this test on Fridays or days preceding public holiday. Samples MUST be transported at 4oC.

(c) Phone Special Haematology lab before collection on ext 43490.

(d) Adult Volume - 3 mL and Paediatric Volume - 2 mL. A separate dedicated EDTA tube is preferred. 

Hb H Preparation / Hb H inclusions

(a) Samples must be collected on Sun - Fri. Collections on Fridays must arrive at the Clayton laboratory by 1pm. DO NOT collect blood for this test on Saturdays or days preceding public holidays.

(b) Phoned Special Haematology lab before collection on ext 43490 (Mon - Fri).

Unstable Haemoglobin / Unstable Hb / Isopropanol Precipitation Test

(a) Tests must be booked with Special Haematology lab PH 9594 3490.

(b) Samples must be collected on Mon - Thurs (preferably AM). DO NOT collect blood for this test on Fridays or days preceding public holiday. Samples MUST be transported at 4oC.

(c) Phone Special Haematology lab before collection on ext 43490.

(d) Adult Volume - 3 mL and Paediatric Volume - 2 mL. A separate dedicated EDTA tube is preferred. 

Hb H Preparation / Hb H inclusions

(a) Samples must be collected on Sun - Fri. Collections on Fridays must arrive at the Clayton laboratory by 1pm. DO NOT collect blood for this test on Saturdays or days preceding public holidays.

(b) Phone Special Haematology lab before collection on ext 43490 (Mon - Fri).

Non CMBS test

ALL HIT testing to be approved by Haematologist

Non-CMBS test - $185 for a routine test, $285 if an urgent (same day) result is required.

ALL HIT testing to be approved by Haematologist

Sample must be collected after midday on Mon-Thurs only (avoid collection on a public holiday or public holiday eve), in order to ensure it arrives at the Royal Children's Hospital within 24 hours of collection.

Clinicians should request an FBE at the same time.

If an FBE is not requested, please collect an EDTA (2mL minimum).

A single Heparin Whole Blood (no gel) tube (5mL adult / 2mL minimum) is sufficient to cover the following tests sent to RCH:

- High Sensitivity B cells

- HLA-DR expression

- Th17 cells

- T follicular helper cells (Tfh)

A separate Heparin Whole Blood (no gel) tube is required for in-house Flow assay. 

Specimens must be collected after 1pm Monday - Thursday, and sent immediately to Clayton Pathology Reception. It must reach the Royal Children's Hospital before 11am the following morning, no later than 24 hours from collection.  Avoid collection the day prior to public holidays. 

Clinicians should request an FBE at the same time.

If an FBE is not requested, please collect an EDTA (2mL minimum).

A single Heparin Whole Blood (no gel) tube (5mL adult / 2mL minimum) is sufficient to cover the following tests sent to RCH:

- High Sensitivity B cells

- HLA-DR expression

- Th17 cells

- T follicular helper cells (Tfh)

A separate Heparin Whole Blood (no gel) tube is required for in-house Flow assay. 

Sample must be collected after midday on Mon-Thurs only (avoid collection on a public holiday or public holiday eve).

Sample must be received at the Royal Children's Hospital within 24 hours of collection.

Please collect an EDTA (2mL minimum) sample if no FBE tube is collected at the same time.

A single Heparin Whole Blood (no gel) tube (5mL adult / 2mL minimum) is sufficient to cover the following tests sent to RCH:

- High Sensitivity B cells

- HLA-DR expression

- Th17 cells

- T follicular helper cells (Tfh)

A separate Heparin Whole Blood (no gel) tube is required for the following tests:

- Lymphocyte Subsets (CD4 count) (collect Mon-Sat) - Performed in-house

- Double Negative T-cells (DNT)  (collect Mon-Sat) - Performed in-house

- Memory B-cells (collect Mon-Sat) - Performed in-house

- Naive T-cells  (collect Mon-Sat) - Performed in-house

- T-regulatory cells  (collect Mon-Sat) - Performed in-house

- T cell proliferation (collect between 3pm on Mon to 830am on Tues) - Sent to RCH on Tuesdays only.

Sample must be collected after midday on Mon-Thurs only (avoid collection on a public holiday or public holiday eve), in order to ensure it arrives at the Royal Children's Hospital within 24 hours of collection.

Please request and FBE at the same time.

If an FBE is not requested, please collect an EDTA (2mL minimum).

A single Heparin Whole Blood (no gel) tube (5mL adult / 2mL minimum) is sufficient to cover the following tests sent to RCH:

- High Sensitivity B cells

- HLA-DR expression

- Th17 cells

- T follicular helper cells (Tfh)

A separate Heparin Whole Blood (no gel) tube is required for in-house Flow assay. 

Whole Blood Lead must be collected directly into a separate tube.

Do not transfer blood from other tubes.

Clinical notes essential.

Clinical notes essential.

P-6-C needs to be specifically requested for reporting. 

(It is done as part of the urine metabolic screen but not routinely reported). 

All immune function tests can be collected Monday to Friday anytime.  Saturday samples must be collected before 2pm.  Please send in RED BAG.

4 mL EDTA must be collected at the same time unless an FBE has been requested and collected at the same time.

For clarification please contact the Immunology Lab on 9594 3587 (x43587). 

For Monday to Friday collection only. Any exceptions to this must be discussed with the immunopathologist on-call.

Must be performed within 24 hours of collection.

All immune function tests can be collected Monday to Friday anytime.  Saturday samples must be collected before 2pm.  Please send in RED BAG.

4 mL EDTA must be collected at the same time unless an FBE has been requested and collected at the same time.

For clarification please contact the Immunology Lab on 9594 3587 (x43587). 

For Monday to Friday collection only. Any exceptions to this must be discussed with the immunopathologist on-call.

Must be performed within 24 hours of collection.

Non CMBS test

Non-CMBS test - $42

Non CMBS test

Non CMBS test - $121

Non CMBS test

Non-CMBS test - $88

Please note that PAI testing is not currently being offered at Monash Health Pathology. Please contact Special Coagulation lab on 9594 6751 for more information.

Record date and time of last dose on request form.

DEDICATED EDTA REQUIRED.

Collect a trough sample (pre-dose) each time.

When to monitor posaconazole level?

Blood samples should be taken when a steady state has reached.

For oral dose: 7-10 days after starting/changing therapy.

For IV:  5 days after starting or making a dose change.

Refer to Monash PROMPT posaconazole guideline for details: 

Posaconazole Paediatric Medication Profile

Posaconazole Adult Medication Profile

This is a Sendout test with turnaround times 3 x weekly. For urgent tests please phone the laboratory

Specimens must be collected after 1pm Monday - Thursday, and sent immediately to Clayton Pathology Reception. It must reach the Royal Children's Hospital before 11am the following morning, no later than 24 hours from collection. Avoid collection the day prior to public holidays.

Please request an FBE, or collect an EDTA (0.5mL minimum) sample if no FBE is requested at the same time.

A single Heparin Whole Blood (no gel) tube (5mL adult / 2mL minimum) is sufficient to cover the following tests sent to RCH:

- High Sensitivity B cells

- HLA-DR expression

- Th17 cells

- T follicular helper cells (Tfh)

A separate Heparin Whole Blood (no gel) tube is required for in-house Flow assay.

Sample must be collected on Mon-Thurs only.  (Not on a public holiday or public holiday eve).

Sample must be received at the Royal Children's Hospital within 24 hours of collection.

Please collect an EDTA (0.5mL minimum) sample if no FBE tube is collected at the same time.

A single Heparin Whole Blood (no gel) tube (5mL adult / 2mL minimum) is sufficient to cover the following tests sent to RCH:

- High Sensitivity B cells

- HLA-DR expression

- Th17 cells

- T follicular helper cells (Tfh)

A separate Heparin Whole Blood (no gel) tube is required for the following tests:

- Lymphocyte Subsets (CD4 count) (collect Mon-Sat) - Performed in-house

- Double Negative T-cells (DNT)  (collect Mon-Sat) - Performed in-house

- Memory B-cells (collect Mon-Sat) - Performed in-house

- Naive T-cells  (collect Mon-Sat) - Performed in-house

- T-regulatory cells  (collect Mon-Sat) - Performed in-house

- T cell proliferation (collect between 3pm on Mon to 830am on Tues) - Sent to RCH on Tuesdays only.

Specimens must be collected after 1pm Monday - Thursday, and sent immediately to Clayton Pathology Reception. It must reach the Royal Children's Hospital before 11am the following morning, no later than 24 hours from collection. Avoid collection the day prior to public holidays.

Please collect an EDTA (0.5mL minimum) sample if no FBE is requested  at the same time.

A single Heparin Whole Blood (no gel) tube (5mL adult / 2mL minimum) is sufficient to cover the following tests sent to RCH:

- High Sensitivity B cells

- HLA-DR expression

- Th17 cells

- T follicular helper cells (Tfh)

A separate Heparin Whole Blood (no gel) tube is required for in-house Flow assay.

Sample must be collected on Mon-Thurs only.  (Not on a public holiday or public holiday eve).

Sample must be received at the Royal Children's Hospital within 24 hours of collection.

Please collect an EDTA (2mL minimum) sample if no FBE tube is collected at the same time.

A single Heparin Whole Blood (no gel) tube (5mL adult / 2mL minimum) is sufficient to cover the following tests sent to RCH:

- High Sensitivity B cells

- HLA-DR expression

- Th17 cells

- T follicular helper cells (Tfh)

A separate Heparin Whole Blood (no gel) tube is required for the following tests:

- Lymphocyte Subsets (CD4 count) (collect Mon-Sat) - Performed in-house

- Double Negative T-cells (DNT)  (collect Mon-Sat) - Performed in-house

- Memory B-cells (collect Mon-Sat) - Performed in-house

- Naive T-cells  (collect Mon-Sat) - Performed in-house

- T-regulatory cells  (collect Mon-Sat) - Performed in-house

- T cell proliferation (collect between 3pm on Mon to 830am on Tues) - Sent to RCH on Tuesdays only.

Sample must be collected on Mon-Thurs only.  (Not on a public holiday or public holiday eve).

Sample must be received at the Royal Children's Hospital within 24 hours of collection.

Please collect an EDTA (0.5mL minimum) sample if no FBE tube is collected at the same time.

A single Heparin Whole Blood (no gel) tube (5mL adult / 2mL minimum) is sufficient to cover the following tests sent to RCH:

- High Sensitivity B cells

- HLA-DR expression

- Th17 cells

- T follicular helper cells (Tfh)

A separate Heparin Whole Blood (no gel) tube is required for the following tests:

- Lymphocyte Subsets (CD4 count) (collect Mon-Sat) - Performed in-house

- Double Negative T-cells (DNT)  (collect Mon-Sat) - Performed in-house

- Memory B-cells (collect Mon-Sat) - Performed in-house

- Naive T-cells  (collect Mon-Sat) - Performed in-house

- T-regulatory cells  (collect Mon-Sat) - Performed in-house

- T cell proliferation (collect between 3pm on Mon to 830am on Tues) - Sent to RCH on Tuesdays only.