Reducing the risk of respiratory illness transmission during sample collection
03 September 2026
We are asking for your support in reducing the risk of respiratory illness transmission in our Pathlab collection rooms, home visit services, and aged care facilities. We have recently seen several patients attend for routine blood tests while symptomatic with Influenza A, COVID-19, or other respiratory infections. In some cases, this was not noted on the laboratory request form, and our staff onl…
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Test Update - PSA Referral Limit Update
26 August 2026
Change to PSA Age-Adjusted Referral Thresholds. From Monday 7th September 2026, Pathlab will adopt the age-adjusted PSA referral thresholds as outlined in the September 2025 Prostate Cancer OCCP. Due to reporting restrictions, the referral thresholds will be reflected as the reference interval reported alongside the PSA level. These limits should not be interpreted as population reference interval…
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Myoglobin Testing Withdrawn
18 August 2026
Waikato Hospital Laboratory will stop offering myoglobin (blood and urine) from 17 August 2026 onwards. Consequently, myoglobin screening will no longer be offered by Pathlab. This decision is associated with the implementation of a new Laboratory Information System (LIS) at Waikato Hospital Laboratory. During the project, the software vendor advised that the calculation required for urine myoglob…
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Requesting Short Synacthen Testing in the Community
11 August 2026
Over recent weeks, we have received several enquiries regarding how community patients can access Short Synacthen Testing across Pathlab's main regions. Please see below the referral and booking requirements for each region: Tauranga: Bookings are essential and can be made through the Pathlab Contact Centre – 07 578 7073. Testing is only available at Pathlab Cameron Road, Tauranga Hospital Campus.…
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Pathlab Haematopathologist Service
31 July 2026
As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting high-quality patient care and ensuring the best use of available healthcare resources across the region, we would like to provide some guidance on the scope of the Pathlab Haematopathologist consultation service. We hope this information will assist clinicians in accessing the most appropriate specialist advice and help ensure enquiries are directed…
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