Aotea News September 2011

Editorial -- three developments to share

Welcome to our winter edition of Aotea News where we have three recent developments to share with you. Read more here.

Getting testing right is a team effort

Our laboratory investigations depend on the quality of request and specimen information you supply, and we have a part to play too by letting you know what information we need. To help with this we have set up an area on the Aotea Pathology website that gives detailed information on any changes we make to test request protocols. Read more here.

Anaerobic cultures protocol changes

Following an internal review and IANZ recommendations we have introduced the following protocols for selection of specimens to be cultured for anaerobes. Read more here.

Getting the right urine specimen for the right test

Different urine tests require different types of urine specimens. In a recent audit of specimens and requests, we found that medical practitioners often send one urine sample for cytology, urine culture and tuberculosis tests. These three tests require specific -- and differing -- sample criteria. Read more here.

Guidelines for genetic testing referral

Genetic testing is available for an increasing range of conditions. It is also currently fashionable with the media and, as a result, patients often request particular tests, sometimes based on incorrect information they have seen. Read more here.

Interpretation of hCG in pregnancy is not an exact science

Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) can be used serially to monitor early pregnancy. Read more here.

Download the PDF

Download the PDF of September's Aotea News here.