Guides & Publications
Testing Selection Guide
An overview of tests available and acceptable groupings of tests.
Specimen Collection Guides
The Specimen Collection Instruction Manual will assist you in the collection of pathology specimens.
The Swab and Tube Collection guides contain an overview of the correct tubes to use for these tests. Certain special tests require additional collection instructions.
If you require further information, we recommend you contact our main laboratory on 03 9244 0444.
Test Information Brochures
Infectious Diseases
More than 230 000 Australians are chronically infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV)1, however only 1% of these persons currently is on treatment. If the patient is not treated, 5 – 20% will go on to develop cirrhosis after 20 years and be at risk of complications including liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Dorevitch Pathology performs daily PCR panels on faeces for detection of the most common viruses, bacterial and parasites to cause illness, with superior sensitivity and a faster turn around time than traditional methods.
Monkeypox specimen collection information.
Allergy & Immunology
Laboratory allergy testing measures immunoglobulin E (IgE) specific to allergen(s) in serum.
Cervical Screening
Please check expiry date of Thin Prep vials, which is in US format: year – month – day.
Changes to Cervical Screening in Australia
The medical community now has a greater understanding of cervical cancer as well as access to improved technology that will further reduce cervical cancer rates.
As a result of these developments, changes have been made to cervical tests nationwide. On December 1, 2017 the two yearly pap smear was replaced by a five yearly cervical screening. For further information on the new screening protocols, please see the documents for download below or call 03 9244 0444.
Increasing cervical screening adherence for women
We are proud to support the Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation’s Comfort Checklist for cervical screening. The ACCF ‘Comfort Checklist’ aims to empower women by helping them overcome any emotional, cultural and physical barriers and encourage regular cervical screening.
For more information please click here.
An update on self-collection testing
PLEASE NOTE:
The Cytology Pap Smear Audit closed in accordance with the renewal of the National Cervical Screening Program implemented on December 1, 2017.
National Cervical Screening Management Guide
From 1 December 2017, cervical screening in Australia will change. The guidelines are complex. For the laboratory to perform the correct tests, offer the correct clinical recommendation and bill Medicare appropriately, it is important that you complete the pathology request form correctly. Below are guidelines for requesting depending on the clinical scenario.
Diabetes
There are a number of recognised tests used in the diagnosis of diabetes and these include glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting and/or random blood glucose test, and oral glucose tolerance test.
Guidelines for testing and diagnosis of hyperglycaemia in pregnancy were released by the Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society in 20141 . The guidelines incorporate findings from the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) study, which evaluated glucose levels and pregnancy outcomes in more than 23,000 women.
Gastroenterology
Measurement of drug levels for anti-TNFα monoclonal antibodies – Infliximab and Adalimumab.
Genetic Testing
Through our specialist genomic testing laboratory Genomic Diagnostics, Dorevitch Pathology offers an extensive range of genetic tests to help in the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of disease. Our testing menu spans from simple to complex and includes diagnostic and carrier testing for inherited disease, testing for somatic mutations in cancer, and pharmacogenetic testing using genetic and genomic techniques.
Our genetic diagnostic service is supported by:
- NATA/RCPA accreditation. Our genetics laboratory has held continuous accreditation from NATA/RCPA since 2000 and is compliant with the ISO 15189 standard
- Our expert pathologists who are available for consultation and advice
- Extensive experience in working closely with medical practitioners, private and public hospitals and their patients across New South Wales.
Genetic testing is available for many disorders including:
- Solid tumour molecular diagnostics
- Developmental delay and mental retardation
- Carrier testing for cystic fibrosis, and other disorders affecting family planning
- Inherited and somatic haematological disorders
- Breast/Ovarian Cancer Genetic Testing
Our comprehensive cytogenetic service is available for prenatal, postnatal and haematological malignancy testing using both conventional and molecular cytogenetic techniques. The requirements and costs can vary for each molecular test. Some testing may be rebateable if subject to Medicare guidelines and criteria. Other tests may incur an out of pocket charge.
For further enquiries including clinical enquiries, testing availability, collection requirements and costs please click below to visit the Genomic Diagnostics website:
Men's Health
Semen Analysis
The National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council (NPAAC) guidelines for semen analysis have recently been updated, reflecting the World Health Organisation (WHO) Standards.
These standards recommend that semen analysis, for both fertility assessment and post vasectomy testing, has to be performed on the specimen within one hour of collection. Therefore, specimens should be delivered to the laboratory within 45 minutes of collection to satisfy this requirement.
Where a specimen is received outside this time zone, it will still be analysed. If parameters are outside the appropriate range, a comment will be included with the report, suggesting that a recollect occurs with delivery of the specimen much sooner after collection.
Click below for drop off sites and test preparation information.
Prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing can be performed as either a screening test or to monitor the progress of known disease. Medicare reimbursement of PSA depends on how the test is being used.
Pregnancy
Dorevitch Pathology now gives you faster time to results and increased sensitivity in the detection of Group B Streptococcus in genital specimens.
These are highly sensitive, accurate, non-invasive prenatal screening tests for fetal chromosomal and subchromosomal aneuploidies. The tests use whole genome sequencing (WGS) to analyse circulating cell-free fetal DNA from a maternal blood sample from as early as 10 week’s gestation.
Carrier screening is genetic testing performed to determine whether individuals or couples have a genetic variant (mutation) that may affect their chance of having a child with a genetic condition.
Genomic Diagnostics and the Healius Pathology network are the Australian partners for Myriad Women’s Health, a leader worldwide in carrier screen testing. We can enable your patients simple access to the Myriad Foresight Carrier Screen, an expanded carrier screen for more than 175+ serious and actionable genetic diseases through our network of collection centres.
Genetic carrier screening identifies How to order your test individuals and couples at risk of having children with serious genetic disorders in order to inform reproductive decision making.
TPMT
Azathioprine is a purine antimetabolite immunosuppressive agent commonly used for induction and maintenance immunosuppression in a broad range of clinical indications. These include treatment of systemic rheumatic disease, systemic vasculitis, infl ammatory bowel disease, autoimmune liver disease, infl ammatory skin conditions as well as prevention of allograft rejection.
Troponin
In March 2019, Dorevitch Pathology will change their Troponin I assay to a new Beckman hs-Troponin I assay. This will enable earlier diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
