Temporary Suspension of Routine HIV Screening


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 exhausted its routine testing supply. A limited remaining quantity will be reserved for urgent testing only.

Effective immediately:

  • Urgent HIV testing (e.g. BBFE/needlestick exposures) will continue to be performed.
  • Additional urgent requests should be emailed to immunology@pathlab.co.nz with

appropriate clinical justification.

  • All routine HIV screening requests will be temporarily deferred.

A shipment has been arranged from the Netherlands, and we anticipate service restoration by the end of next week. Once reagent supply resumes, we expect to clear the backlog within 1–2 days.

Please continue to submit requests as usual.

All other testing will proceed normally. Samples requiring HIV testing will be stored frozen to maintain integrity and processed in order of receipt once testing resumes.

No other reagent shortages are anticipated at this time.

Thank you for your understanding.