Specimen Collection Best Practice Tips

Test request forms

To help Pathlab turn around results quickly, test request forms should be filled out correctly and completely with clear, legible handwriting. A request form requires the following information:

Full name of patient -- last name and first name
Date of Birth
NHI
Patient's address
Requesting doctor’s name
Name of copy-to doctors -- specify last name and location
Tests required
Relevant clinical information and/or indications for testing

Additional information required for a serial test request:

Frequency of testing for specified tests -- for example, monthly, three-monthly
Duration of testing.

How to store specimens

If the sample is not being despatched to a Pathlab laboratory on the day of collection, please store as follows:

Refrigeration 4 – 8 C

All urines for microbiology and cytology
Faeces specimens for microbiology
Viral swabs

Room temperature

Swabs in transport media
Aspirates
Chlamydia swabs
Chlamydia urines
Sputum for microbiology and cytology

Blood specimens

Blood specimens should not be stored overnight.