Test Updates - HbA1c, FIB-4 Index, FT3
April 17, 2026
The Diabetes National Clinical Network has issued updated HbA1c diagnostic thresholds to align New Zealand reporting with global standards and to support improved patient outcomes. Diabetes: HbA1c ≥ 48 mmol/mol (lowered from the current ≥ 50 mmol/mol). Prediabetes: HbA1c 42 – 47 mmol/mol (increased from the current 40 mmol/mol). Normal: HbA1c < 42 mmol/mol. A confirmatory test will not be required…
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Single Site Blood Culture Sampling for Adults
April 09, 2026
Single-site blood culture sampling is now recommended as the standard approach for adult patients requiring blood cultures, except where specific clinical indications necessitate sampling from separate sites. Single-site sampling involves collecting the full recommended blood volume from a single peripheral venipuncture and inoculating all bottles. “Separate-site sampling” should only be…
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Platform Change Infectious Serology Assays
March 24, 2026
Please note that several infectious serology assays performed at Pathlab are migrating from the Abbott Alinity platform to the Beckman DxI9000 and Diasorin Liaison testing platforms. These changes will take place over the next couple of weeks: New Infectious Serology Testing Platforms Table The new assays have all been verified by Pathlab for the purposes of quality assurance. HIV, syphilis, and…
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Indications for Sputum Culture in the Community Setting
March 13, 2026
Sputum culture is in general a low value microbiology test, due to poor sensitivity and specificity in identifying bacterial pathogens. In addition, the vast majority of results do not change patient management. We analysed 3200 sputum samples between July 2023 and June 2024. 6% of the total samples grew a respiratory pathogen that was resistant to amoxycillin, and only 0.7% of the sample cohort…
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HPV Swabbing
March 12, 2026
The transition from the buffer containing HPV swab tube to the dry tube has gone well, but there are couple of important points to note about breaking the swab into the tube. You MUST break the swab at the indicated pink break line on the swab shaft as indicated in the photograph. HPV Break Point Please do NOT cut off the swab above this break point for two reasons: The swab will become stuck in…
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