Pathology Specimen Handbook

72 Hour faecal collection required. Special weighed 4 litre bottle supplied by Biochemistry Dept.

Serum A1AT sample also required. 5mL of blood in a serum gel tube.

24 hour collection may be accepted for young patients with approval from the Chemical Pathologist.

Please collect a composite swab of the patient's axilla and groin.

Other samples that are acceptable include nose ,ear,oropharynx,urine wound and rectum

Please collect a composite swab of the patient's axilla and groin.

Other samples that are acceptable include nose, ear, oropharynx, urine, wound and rectum

Preparation before collection

Label the tube with your full name, date of birth, date and time of collection (including PM or AM)

Relax for approximately 1 hour (high activity or excitement can raise your cortisol level)

Do not eat or drink (except water) for 30 minutes

Remove lipstick or lip balms

Avoid brushing or flossing teeth 30 minutes prior to collection

Collection

Remove the cap of the tube by pushing it slightly to the side

Do not remove the sponge holder (if it is dislodged, push it back into the tube)

Tip the sponge directly into your mouth. Do not touch the sponge with your fingers.

Very gently chew and roll the sponge in your mouth for 2 minutes.

When finish, hold the saturated sponge with your front teeth and return the sponge directly into the tube holder without touching it.

Close the tube firmly with the cap. Keep the sample in the fridge prior to delivering it to your closest Monash Health Pathology collection centre.

Preparation before collection

Label the tube with your full name, date of birth, date and time of collection (including PM or AM)

Relax for approximately 1 hour (high activity or excitement can raise your cortisol level)

Do not eat or drink (except water) for 30 minutes

Remove lipstick or lip balms

Avoid brushing or flossing teeth 30 minutes prior to collection

Collection

Remove the cap of the tube by pushing it slightly to the side

Do not remove the sponge holder (if it is dislodged, push it back into the tube)

Tip the sponge directly into your mouth. Do not touch the sponge with your fingers.

Very gently chew and roll the sponge in your mouth for 2 minutes.

When finish, hold the saturated sponge with your front teeth and return the sponge directly into the tube holder without touching it.

Close the tube firmly with the cap. Keep the sample in the fridge prior to delivering it to your closest Monash Health Pathology collection centre.

Please note cytogenetic buccal swab containers are not suitable for Salivery Cortisol.

Collect rectal swab/groin swab if faecal sample unable to be collected. Only urines from indewlling catheters are indicated.

For Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter (CRAB) screening collect nose, throat, tracheal aspirates, urine, axilla and wounds in addition to the rectal swab

Sample volume MUST be 5 mL or sample will be rejected and recollection requested. Enquires to Chemical Pathologist. Ext 44522

Must be collected at least 8hrs post dose.

Must be pre booked by requesting doctor to the Duty Biochemist Ext: 44525. DO NOT BOOK ON MONDAY OR FRIDAY.

Send in red bag marked Urgent

Sample volume MUST be 5 mL or sample will be rejected and recollection requested.

Must be collected at least 8hrs post dose.

Must be pre booked by requesting doctor to the Special Chem Lab Ext: 44516 during business hours. DO NOT BOOK ON MONDAY OR FRIDAY.

Enquires to Chemical Pathologist. Ext 44522

Collect 3 tubes filled to 4mL EDTA whole blood as 10 mL whole blood is required..

Collect 1 x 3mL EDTA Blood

For Coeliac Disease HLA typing (HLADQ2 / HLADQ8), refer to COELIAC GENETIC TEST.

For HLA Tissue Typing (Transplant patients), refer to entry HLA TISSUE TYPING (TRANSPLANT PATIENTS).

For HLA-B27, refer to entry B27.

For other HLA typing, refer to entry HLA TYPING.

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 (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.

Refer to NSW Test catalogue:  Infliximab Level (Blood) 

Please fill the information on the request form (download here).

Note: The Infliximab brand: Inflectra, Remicade or Other (Specify) must be noted on the form. The sample MUST NOT be sent without these details.

Refer to NSW Test catalogue:  Infliximab Level (Blood) 

Please fill the information on the request form (download here).

The requesting doctor MUST state which laboratory they want to use for LAIP testing.  There are several external laboratories that may perform this test including but not limited to:

- Alfred Pathology

- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

- The Royal Children's Hospital

The requesting doctor MUST state which laboratory they want to use for LAIP testing.  There are several external laboratories that may perform this test including but not limited to:

- Alfred Pathology: LAIPALF

- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre: LAIPPMC

- The Royal Children's Hospital: LAIPRCH

Requires dedicated blood sample

Non-CMBS test

Non-CMBS test

Microbiology only performs culture.

For microscopy ( pre + post vasectomy ) please refer to Andrology

at Clayton  Phone 85405587

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 (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.

Collect midstream urine (MSU), catheter urine (CSU) clean catch urine (CCU), suprapubic aspirate (SPA), nephrostomy specimen or diagnostic imaging specimen (MCU) into a sterile container. Specify type of collection on request slip. Routine bacterial culture done. Specific request and clinical notes required if other investigations are needed. Please specify if examination for casts or red cell morphology is required. These samples are to be priotised.

Retesting is not required within 3 days unless specimen is of better quality or clinical condition has changed.

Collect midstream urine (MSU), catheter urine (CSU) clean catch urine (CCU), suprapubic aspirate (SPA), nephrostomy specimen or diagnostic imaging specimen (MCU) into a sterile container. Specify type of collection on request slip. Routine bacterial culture done. Specific request and clinical notes required if other investigations are needed. Please specify if examination for casts or red cell morphology is required. If red cell morphology is requested from these collection centres: Cowes, Foster, Korumburra, Leongatha, Wonthaggi, and Yarram, please aliquot 2-3mls of urine and add 1 drop of formalin. Please label aliquot as "formalin added". If formalin is not readily available, please ensure sample is kept refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C). These samples are to be prioritised.

Retesting is not required within 3 days unless specimen is of better quality or clinical condition has changed.

Please contact the Clinical Microbiologist BEFORE obtaining or requesting specimens for any test from patients suspected of or known to have a viral haemorrhagic fever such as Ebola virus or others