Temporary Suspension of Routine HIV Screening
15 June 2026
Due to an unexpected global supply chain disruption, our supplier has been unable to provide HIV screening reagents as planned. Despite maintaining local buffer stock and access to New Zealand–based inventory, we have now been advised that no reagent is currently available within New Zealand or Australia. Urgent resupply is in progress, with stock being expedited from overseas. Pathlab has now exh…
Keep Reading →
Diagnostic Stewardship - Wound Swabs
13 May 2026
There are a limited number of clinical scenarios where sending a wound swab to the laboratory can add clinical value. We have reviewed these indications and they are listed below: Wound infection with accompanying systemic signs (e.g. fever/tachycardia) Infected wounds not responding to standard empiric treatment Infected post-surgical wound Infected bite wound Infected burn wound Infected penetra…
Keep Reading →
Test Updates - HbA1c, FIB-4 Index, FT3
17 April 2026
HbA1c: Updated Diagnostic Thresholds 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 53 mmol/mol. HbA1c…
Keep Reading →
Single Site Blood Culture Sampling for Adults
09 April 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 considere…
Keep Reading →
Platform Change Infectious Serology Assays
24 March 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…
Keep Reading →