Appointments for special tests

Please refer to the list below for more information on locations where you can make appointments for special tests with Pathlab:

Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT)

A morning appointment is always required for a GTT. You can have this test at any of our collection rooms. Click here for details of a room near you.

Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) Test

16 1st Ave, Tauranga (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday mornings)
58 Tristram St, Hamilton
Whakatane Hospital Laboratory (Thursday mornings)

Bone Marrow

BOP – 16 1st Avenue: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings
LSR – Haupapa Street site only - Haematology Department - by appointment only
Waikato – N/A - HAEMATOLOGY
Whakatane – Thursday morning

Fine Needle Aspirate – FNA (Mammogram before FNA or 10 days post)

BOP- 16 1st Avenue - Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings
LSR – Lakeland Health site only - Appointment made at Haupapa Street
Waikato – Main lab only
Whakatane: Thursday morning

GTT / PTT

Morning appointment required, patient must be fasting 8-12 hours, test takes 2 hours to complete and you must remain at the rooms for the duration

BOP- performed at all rooms, limit of 3 appointments on Saturday mornings
LSR – Haupapa Street site only - NOT on Saturdays
Waikato - all surgeries – main lab only Saturday mornings
Whakatane - every morning

Mantoux – immune status/TB

Patient is required to remain in rooms 20mins post injection
Patient/employment request $15 charge
Test given – Monday - read Thursday, Tuesday – read Friday, Friday – read Monday

BOP – performed at 1st Ave, Central Med, Welcome Bay, Baymed
LSR – Lakeland Health site only - payment if appointment made at Haupapa St site
Waikato – most sites – each day except Thursday
Whakatane - afternoon appointments only

Synacthen - test for Addison’s disease

No cortisone, hydrocortisone, prednisone, Dexamethasone, Betamethesone 8hrs prior to test. 8:50-8:55 am appointment time, the test takes approximately 1 hr 10 mins, patient must stay at the Lab for the duration.

BOP – 1st Ave only, it's important to ensure the Pathologist will be available, charge is $35
LSR – Lakeland Health site only - by request of specialist ONLY
Waikato – Main lab only
Whakatane - Hospital

Urine Drug Screens (pre-employment, visa applications, child custody etc)

Photo ID required

BOP – 1st Ave, Baymed, Mount, Te Puke, Phoenix House, Katikati, Kawerau, Baycare
LSR – Haupapa Street site only
Waikato - Main lab only in Hamilton, and all out of town surgeries
Whakatane (Collection rooms only, not available at the hospital)

DNA for paternity/maternity test

Cost for 3 people = $1,125.00.
Payment is required at time of testing (unless other arrangements made e.g. legal aid)
Recent passport style photograph required for all parties, plus passport or drivers license if available. Information of legal representation is required.
Child under 16 years must NOT have sample collected without guardians consent (signed form DNA01c).

BOP – 1st Ave afternoon appointments, Monday-Thursday (Phoenix House appointments are available by arrangement)
LSR - Haupapa Street site only
Waikato – Main lab only in Hamilton and some out of town surgeries
Whakatane - Collection rooms only not hospital site

Allergy testing

An appointment is required. Please contact a suitable collection facility below for more information on test requirements.

BOP - 1st Ave Tauranga, Welcome Bay, Baymed, Katikati
LSR - Hospital site only (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 1pm - 3pm only)
Waikato - Main lab only in Hamilton, Raglan,Waihi,Thames,Matamata,Cambridge,Morrinsville
Whakatane - Whakatane Hospital, afternoon appointments only

Do I have to pay for my tests?

The District Health Boards (DHBs) provide funding for laboratory testing services and many services are free for eligible patients.

Your medical practitioner will let you know if your tests are funded by the DHBs. The table below sets out the rules for publicly funded tests.

Eligibility

WHO	CRITERIA	FUNDED
New Zealand citizens and residents	New Zealand citizens (including those living in the Cook Island, Niue or Tokelau) and residents	YES
EXCLUSIONS
Any person applying for immigration/emigration reasons	Testing for immigration/emigration or visa purposes	NO
Tests for screening purposes Tests for a trial or study	Tests that are requested on a well person devoid of symptoms and with no identifying risk factors e.g. blood group, wellness testing Tests that are for, or part of a research project , a study or trial	NO
Travellers	Screening tests prior to travel -- e.g. Hepatitis immunity, rabies antibodies	NO
Tests for employment, pre-employment, education and work experience	Screening tests for education or work experience -- e.g. Nursing student medical Health and safety testing -- e.g. lead levels, drug testing	NO
Self-referred or patients referred by other than NZ registered doctors	Limited range of funded tests for midwives, smear taker, nurse practitioner	NO
People obtaining a medical certificate, insurance or superannuation policy	Where a certificate is required -- e.g. pilot or diver’s medical licence and insurance testing	NO
VISITORS
Work permit holders	Holds a current work permit, which together with the time the person has already been in NZ lawfully, allows for a continuous stay of at least two years Foreign Language Teaching Assistants funded by Ministry of Education	YES
Refugees and applicant refugees	With proof of refugee/applicant status	YES
Visitor permit holder	Holds a visitor's permit Refer to Ministry of Health eligibility conditions for child visitors under care of an eligible parent, or pregnant partner of an eligible person	NO YES
Australian citizens	As per New Zealand resident	YES
United Kingdom citizens ordinarily resident in UK	Testing required for medical conditions requiring prompt attention	YES
Foreign Diplomats	Other than Australia / UK diplomats and their family (including their children)	NO
All persons receiving compulsory health services	Compulsory treatment under TB Act 1948, Health Act 1956, Alcohol & Drug Addiction Act 1966, Mental Health Act 1992 Prison inmates	YES
Funded Students	Funded by NZAID ODA and includes partners and children	YES
Student permit holders	Holds a current student permit (unless studying continuously since before 29 October 2003)	NO

For more information on test funding eligibility, please visit http://www.moh.govt.nz/eligibility