Preparing for a test
What to bring
- Pathology test request form completed by your doctor
- A list of any current medication and doses
- Valid Medicare card – this will ensure your testing is billed to Medicare if eligible
- Any valid Concession cards, DVA card, Pensioner card or OSHC details if you do not have a Medicare card
- Immigration
- Occupational Health
- Parentage DNA
- Insurance
- Drug Screening
- Court Ordered
What to do before your test
Your pre-testing instructions will depend on the test you’re having, but the most important thing to do is drink plenty of water before your test – unless your GP has given you a reason not to. This will make it easier for our team member to conduct your blood test.
In some cases, you may be required to fast before your test. This means you will not be able to eat or drink for a set period of time. Fasting is necessary for some tests because some foods and drinks can affect your results.
Your doctor will advise if you are required to fast for your blood test.
A quick guide to fasting
- Diabetics should not fast without prior medical advice.
- Fasting means that you abstain from all food and fluids other than water for a period of 8-14 hours prior to your test.
- Alcohol should not be consumed for 72 hours (3 days) prior to the test.
- You should avoid smoking during the fasting period.
- Do not fast for more than 14 hours prior to your testing.
- Continue to take any medication unless advised otherwise by your doctor.
- Children under 12 should avoid fasting for more than 4-6 hours.
Tests that may require fasting include
- Glucose levels
- Lipids levels (cholesterol)
After your blood test
Once the blood collection is complete:
- Please leave dressing strip in place for 2-4 hours
- Avoid activities which may cause direct impact on the puncture site for 24 hours. If your skin is particularly thin, it may also be advisable to avoid activities which require energetic use of your arm (such as sports, digging or carrying heavy items) for 24 hours.
Rarely, patients may experience some bleeding, swelling, discomfort or bruising. Should this occur the following steps are recommended:
Bleeding at needle puncture site:
- Apply firm pressure directly over the needle site and elevate the arm until bleeding stops.
Discomfort or swelling around needle puncture site:
- Elevate the arm and apply an ice pack to the site. This will help reduce bruising.
Excessive bruising:
- Rest the arm. Apply ice pack to the area.
Pathology testing for children - Paediatric Collections
When taking your child for a blood test, it is a good idea to explain why the test is necessary, and exactly what is involved. Often bringing a favourite toy, book or colouring activity can help your child feel more comfortable.
Children over the age of 12 years can have their collection performed at any of our centres. For children aged from 1 to 6 years, we have specialised paediatric collection centres with collectors who have been trained in paediatric care.
To find one of these, select “Paediatric Collection (1 to 6 years)” from the “Any test” drop-down menu in the search criteria.
Please call the collection centre you plan to attend ahead of time and make an appointment.
Sometimes your child or baby may require a urine sample to be collected for testing. Please see Urine Collection (Paediatrics) below for further information.
Pre-test collection information
The following pre-test collection information will ensure the specimen you provide to Dorevitch Pathology is in the condition necessary for correct examination and accurate result reporting.
Your doctor has requested a 24 hour blood pressure study. This test involves wearing a blood pressure monitor for 24 hours. As this test requires you be fitted with a monitor you will need to contact your chosen Dorevitch Pathology clinic to make an appointment.
How do I prepare for my test?
- Continue taking your medication as usual, unless specified otherwise by your doctor.
- It is recommended to shower or bathe before your appointment as you will be unable to do so while the monitor is fitted.
- The cuff may only be worn on the upper arm. It is recommended you wear a loose fitting shirt or blouse that will allow for the monitor to be worn comfortably.
What to expect
- You will be required to keep a diary to note your activity and/or accompanying symptoms throughout the day. Noting all symptoms such as heart pounding, nausea, shortness of breath or dizziness, or any pain in the upper body.
- While the unit is in the process of taking your blood pressure, you must relax and keep your arm still until the cuff has completely deflated at the end of the procedure. Let arm hang relaxed beside body if possible.
Important
- You cannot swim, shower or bathe while wearing the monitor.
This is a special test which is only performed at selected Dorevitch Pathology collection centres. To find a centre which performs this test select “Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABP)” from the “Any test” drop down in our Collection Centre search, or alternatively call 03 9244 0444.
A Urea Breath Test has been requested by your doctor to assess the likelihood of the presence of Helicobacter Pylori in the stomach. This test involves the collection and analysis of exhaled air after swallowing of a capsule containing urea labelled with radioactive carbon-14. Urea is a harmless, naturally occurring substance and the radiation involved is similar to half a day’s normal exposure to environmental radiation.
Preparation:
- Fast (no food or liquids) for a minimum of six hours before the test.
- No smoking or eating during the test.
- The test can be performed at any time of the day, and will take approximately 10-15 minutes.
- At the conclusion of the test you will be asked to blow into a breath collection balloon which is sent to the laboratory for analysis.
Medication restrictions include:
- No antibiotics for four weeks prior to test
- No proton-pump inhibitors (eg Losec, Zoton, Somac) for one week prior to test
- No cytoprotectives (sucralfate) for two weeks prior to test
- For a full list of medication restrictions, please see our collection staff
- Your doctor must be notified prior to temporarily stopping any medications. Please do not discontinue any medication without the agreement of your doctor.
Children and pregnant/lactating women:
The small dose of radiation involved in this test is not thought to be harmful and is less than the dose in most X-rays. If you would prefer to avoid this radiation altogether, please ask your doctor about other tests that might be available.
This test incurs an out of pocket fee that is required to be paid at time of collection unless a third party has been nominated. If you nominate a third party to pay, you must provide Dorevitch Pathology with a written statement (on letter-headed paper) or a pre-printed chain of custody form from the third party clearly stating they will accept the costs.
What to Expect
- Photo ID must be shown to the collector for the collection to proceed.
- You will need to sign all tamper evident labels, seals and forms. Please follow collectors’ instructions on where to sign.
- You will be asked about your current medications and other personal information. This information is recorded on the chain of custody form.
- You will need to be in the presence of the collector until the last sample is sealed in a tamper evident bag. Please be patient and wait until the collector instructs you to leave.
Sample Collection – General Steps
- The collector will ask you to remove coats/jumpers and to empty your pockets.
All personal belongings will be left outside the collection room. - You will be asked to wash your hands prior to producing a sample.
- A coloured solution will be added to the toilet. Water taps and soap will be made tamper evident (i.e. a paper bag taped over the taps).
- A sample collection cup will be provided for you to submit a minimum 40mL of urine.
The collection staff member waits outside the cubicle with the door slightly ajar whilst you urinate. - Once finished, the sample cup is handed to the collector. The collector observes the toilet prior to flushing.
- The urine will undergo two integrity checks – temperature and creatinine. If the temperature or creatinine are outside the normal range, or anything unusual is noted of the urine, another sample will be required.
This test incurs an out of pocket fee that is required to be paid at time of collection unless a third party has been nominated. If you nominate a third party to pay, you must provide Dorevitch Pathology with a written statement (on letter-headed paper) or a pre-printed chain of custody form from the third party clearly stating they will accept the costs.
What to Expect
- Photo ID must be shown to the collector for the collection to proceed.
- The collector is required to directly observe passage of urine from the urethra to the container.
- You will need to sign all tamper evident labels, seals and forms. Please follow collectors’ instructions on where to sign.
- You will be asked about your current medications and other personal information. This information is recorded on the chain of custody form.
- You will need to be in the presence of the collector until the last sample is sealed in a tamper evident bag. Please be patient and wait until the collector instructs you to leave.
Sample Collection – General Steps
- The collector will ask you to remove coats/jumpers and to empty your pockets.
All personal belongings will be left outside the collection room. - You will be asked to wash your hands prior to producing a sample.
- A coloured solution will be added to the toilet. Water taps and soap will be made tamper evident (i.e. a paper bag taped over the taps).
- A sample collection cup will be provided for you to submit a minimum 40mL of urine.
A collection staff member will stand in front of you (female) or closely beside you (male) to observe you urinating. - Once finished, the sample cup is handed to the collector. The collector observes the toilet prior to flushing.
- The urine will undergo two integrity checks – temperature and creatinine. If the temperature or creatinine are outside the normal range, or anything unusual is noted of the urine, another sample will be required.
Your doctor has requested a sample of faeces to be sent to the laboratory for examination.
Please use the following instructions to make your collection:
You will need to collect both samples preferably within 3 days of each other.
DO NOT collect the sample during menstrual bleeding or if you have bleeding hemorrhoids
- Label your collection tube with your full name, date of birth and collection date.
- Wee in the toilet first and flush it away.
- Put some toilet paper or a plastic container on top of the water. The toilet water won’t affect your sample result, so don’t worry if your poo mixes with the toilet water.
- Poo onto the toilet paper or plastic container
- Remove the green plastic collection stick from the bottle by twisting. Then scrape the grooved end across different areas of the poo.
- Cover the grooves on the end of the stick with poo, but do not put too much on. The sample should be smaller than a grain of rice. If you collect too much the test will not work.
- Put the stick back in its bottle and push to click shut. Do not remove the stick again.
- Gently shake the tube to mix the liquid. Store the tube in the fridge or a cool place.
- Collect the second sample (steps 1-8) when you next go to the toilet.
- Put both samples in the plastic bag and drop at a Dorevitch collection centre with the request form. Do this as soon as possible, preferably within 24 hours.
Collection of Faeces for Reducing Sugars/ Substances
Requires one specimen only.
Equipment
- 1 brown topped container
- 1 plastic bag
- 1 wooden spatula
- Instruction leaflet
Instructions
- Label container with full name, date of birth, time and date of collection.
- Using the spatula provided, place a small amount of faeces (about the size of a 10 cent coin) into the container.
- Replace top, seal container in plastic bag and place into a suitable plastic container, e.g. recycled ice-cream or margarine container, which has water in it. Place container (with specimen in it) in freezer and freeze.
- Keep frozen until delivery to the collection centre can be arranged.
An appointment is required for this test. Please phone your nearest Dorevitch Pathology collection centre to make arrangements.
Pre Test Preparation
- Do NOT eat or drink for 12 hours prior to the time you are booked in.
- Keep your water intake as normal during this time.
- Do NOT smoke during this time.
During the Test
On arrival at our collection centre, a blood sample will be taken from you by one of our trained collecting staff. You will then be asked to drink a sweet glucose drink and blood will be collected one and two hours later. May we suggest you bring a book to read to help pass the time and a snack to have after your test.
Please note that you will be required to remain in the collection centre for the duration of the test.
Your doctor has requested a Holter Monitor (Electrocardiogram) test. As this requires you to be fitted with the monitor for 24 hours, you will need to contact your chosen Dorevitch Pathology clinic to make an appointment.
How do I prepare for my test?
- Continue taking your medication as usual, unless specified otherwise by your doctor.
- It is recommended to shower or bathe before your appointment as you will be unable to do so while the Holter Monitor is fitted.
- It is recommended you wear a loose fitting shirt or blouse that will allow for the monitor to be worn comfortably and inconspicuously.
- Female patients should not wear ‘underwire’ bras during the test period.
What to expect
- Once the monitor has been fitted onto your chest you will be free to go about your day as normal. It is not uncommon to experience some minor skin irritation caused by the glue on the sticky dots.
- You will be required to keep a diary to note your activity and/or accompanying symptoms throughout the day. Be sure to note all symptoms such as heart pounding, nausea, shortness of breath or dizziness, or any pain in the upper body
Important
- You cannot swim, shower or bathe while wearing the monitor.
This is a special test which is only performed at selected Dorevitch Pathology collection centres. To find a centre which performs this test select “Holter Monitoring” from the “Any test” drop down in our Collection Centre search, or alternatively call 03 9244 0444.
Your doctor has referred you to Dorevitch Pathology for a Mantoux Test.
This test is only performed at selected Collection Centres. Please phone your nearest Dorevitch Pathology Collection Centre for information regarding this test as an appointment is required.
The test involves an injection in your forearm.
You MUST return to the same Dorevitch Pathology collection centre between 48 and 72 hours (3 days). We will then complete the test and send a report to your doctor.
This is a special test which is only performed at selected Dorevitch Pathology collection centres. To find a centre which performs this test select “Mantoux” from the “Any test” drop down in our Collection Centre search, or alternatively call 03 9244 0444.
Please follow these instructions carefully
Instructions
Collect specimen a minimum of 2 days and a maximum of 7 days after your last ejaculation.
Collect the ENTIRE sample by means of masturbation. Other methods, such as interruption of intercourse, are not suitable as there can be loss of the first portion of the specimen.
DO NOT use condoms, artificial lubricants, talcs, etc, as these will interfere with the test.
Collect the specimen in the specially provided container.
Label container with your:
• Surname
• Date of Birth
• Given Name
• Time and Date of Collection
For both Fertility and Post Vasectomy Testing, please deliver to your nearest Dorevitch Laboratory listed overleaf within 45 minutes of collection.
Please see PDF below for form to deliver with the specimen and doctor request form.
Specimen Drop Off Locations
Please see PDF below for your nearest Dorevitch Laboratory sample drop off locations.
Your doctor has requested a sputum test and the laboratory requires a specimen of inflammatory secretions (phlegm), which has been coughed up from the lungs and lower air passages.
This sputum is usually thick and opaque, and may vary in colour (grey, green or yellow). Thin watery saliva is not suitable for testing.
If chest physiotherapy treatment is being given, it is preferable for the physiotherapist to help collect a suitable sample.
If at home, it may be useful to arrange pillows over the side of a bed and lie on them head downwards for about 10 minutes, to drain the sputum from the lungs. The most adequate sample may be obtained early in the morning on rising.
Rinsing the mouth out with water first may make the collection easier, especially if the throat is dry and the sputum is very sticky. A deep breath in, followed by a strong cough, will help to carry the sputum into your throat. You can then cough the specimen into the container provided. If the sample appears thin and watery with food particles, it is saliva. Please obtain another sterile container from a Dorevitch Pathology collection centre and collect again.
Equipment
- 3 sterile yellow lid jars.
Instructions
- Where possible, please collect sputum specimens in the early mornings. However, if your cough/sputum production is higher at another time of the day, then the specimen may be collected then. Adequate specimen is essential. The container may be used more than once within a SINGLE day if you are unable to produce/collect adequate specimen in one cough.
- 3 separate specimens must be collected over 3 consecutive days.
- The specimen must be sputum (or phlegm) produced from your lungs and not saliva which is produced in the mouth.
- Breathing deeply 3 or 4 times before collecting the specimen and “huffing” on expiration may help produce a more adequate specimen.
- Breathing in the steam whilst having a hot shower or breathing in steam from a bowl with a towel over your head may also prove helpful towards producing a satisfactory specimen.
- Label each jar with your:
• Surname
• Date of Birth
• Given Name
• Time & Date of Collection
• Please label day 1, day 2 or day 3 - Specimen should be delivered as soon as possible on the day of collection. If there is a delay in delivery, please refrigerate.
Urine Testing
Equipment
- 1 Sterile urine jar
- 2 Towelettes
Procedure
- Wash hands
- Prepare by opening the sterile container and the towelettes and placing them where they can be reached conveniently.
- Sit well back on the toilet. Part the skinfolds (labia) and while holding apart, wash once from front to back with the first towelette and then the second.
- With the skinfolds (labia) still apart pass the initial amount of urine into the toilet and then without stopping the stream pass the container under and collect enough urine to half fill the container. The rest of the urine is passed into the toilet.
- Place the lid on the container.
- Label both containers with your:
• Surname
• Date of Birth
• Given name
• Time & Date of Collection - Return the sample to the Collection Centre as soon as possible on the day of collection. If there is any delay, refrigerate the specimen.
N.B. The two most important considerations when collecting urine are:
- To keep the labia parted (following cleansing) until urine collected.
- To allow a continuous stream while collecting urine.
Equipment
- 1 Sterile urine jar
- 2 Towelette(s)
Procedure
- Wash hands.
- If uncircumcised, retract the foreskin and cleanse around the opening of the urethra with the towelette(s) provided.
- Avoid touching the inside of the container and the lid.
- Pass a small amount of urine into the toilet and without stopping the stream collect approximately 25mls of urine into the specimen container (i.e. half fill the container). The remaining urine is passed into the toilet. Return foreskin to correct position (if uncircumcised).
- Screw the lid tightly and label container with your:
• Surname
• Date of Birth
• Given Name
• Time and Date of Collection - Return the sample to the collection centre as soon as possible on the day of collection. If there is any delay, refrigerate the specimen.
Collection Kit Instructions
- Wash your hands.
- Remove the baby’s nappy. Wash the genital area thoroughly with soap and water. Dry thoroughly.
- Open the urine collection pack.
- Grasp the tube marked “Chlorhexidine 0.1% Aqueous Irrigation” and twist the lid off. Pour the contents into one of the compartments containing three cotton wool balls.
For Female: Take one of these swabs and wipe the genital area from front to back on the left side and discard. Repeat on the right side and in the centre.
For Male: Wipe around the head of the penis with each swab. - Open the other tube marked “Water for Irrigation” in the same manner and pour over the other cotton wool swabs. Wipe the genital area in the same way.
- Dry the area around the urethral opening.
- Remove the keyhole shaped opening on the urine bag without touching the inside.
- Remove the adhesive protector.
- Apply the bag over the urethral opening.
- After the urine has been passed, carefully remove the bag.With scissors, snip the corner of the bag and pour the urine into the specimen jar.
- Return to the lab as soon as possible. Refrigerate if there is a delay.
Procedure
- Start the collection by going to the toilet so you have no urine left. Flush the toilet. This is the start time of the collection even though there is no urine in the bottle. Please note this time on the bottle (time/date of collection).
- Label the bottle with your
• Surname
• Date of birth
• Given name
• Time and date of collection - Collect all urine into the large bottle for the next 24 hours, using the cup provided.
- Keep the bottle cool during the collection.
- At the end of the 24 hours go to the toilet again, but this time put any urine into the bottle.
- Write the finish time and date on the bottle.
NOTE: If you miss a urine specimen during the 24 hours you will need to collect another bottle and start again.
If the test is “Creatinine clearance” you will need to have a blood test
done within 1 – 2 days of the urine collection.
If the test is “5HIAA” you will need to change your diet to avoid avocados,
tomatoes, bananas, pineapple, nuts, plums, eggplant and kiwi fruit.
If the test is “arsenic” you will need to avoid shellfish for two days before,
and during the 24 hour urine collection.
If the bottle you have been given contains some acid or preservative, please
do not tip it out. If you spill any on your clothes or skin you should wash it
off immediately with water and seek medical assistance if needed.
If you do spill any of the acid/preservative you will be required to collect a
second bottle to perform the test accurately.
No special dietary restrictions apply.
Equipment
- 3 x 120ml Urine Jars
Collection
- Collect mid morning sample on 3 consecutive days.
- The first early morning sample is not suitable.
- Ensure all of the following details are competed on each jar-
• Surname
• Given name
• Date of birth
• Time and date of collection
• Number the samples 1, 2 and 3 - Each specimen should be delivered as soon as possible on the day of collection. If there is a delay in delivery, please refrigerate.
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