News briefs
(Aotea News, December 2011)
Aotea now reports results of tests referred to Wellington Hospital laboratory
We are pleased to let you know that Aotea Pathology now reports the results of tests we refer to Wellington Hospital Laboratory.
This means fewer opportunities for clerical errors in the test-reporting cycle as the testing lab is required to report only to us.
The testing laboratory name still appears on the reports so you can see where testing occurred.
New guidelines for semen analysis
In keeping with recently updated World Health Organisation guidelines, we have made the following alterations to our semen analysis testing.
Seminal fluid — infertility
Motility categories: The distinction between rapid and slow forward motion has been removed and we now report progressively motile, non-progressively motile and immotile.
Clumping: We no longer report clumping. New reporting is the differentiation between non-specific aggregation and agglutination.
Biological reference range changes
The reference range for semen volume is now ≥1.5ml; >40% total motility or >32% progressively motile; and sperm concentration is now >15 x 10^6/ml.
Seminal fluid -- post vasectomy
Following feedback from requestors, we have added a comment to indicate if the result was obtained from an un-centrifuged specimen or a centrifuged deposit.
New collection rooms in Waikanae and central Wellington
New collection rooms in Waikanae and central Wellington opened in November.
- Waikanae patients now go to 3 Omahi St.
- Wellington patients, who used to go to our rooms on The Terrace, now go to Capital on the Quay, Level 1, 256-260 Lambton Quay.
We outgrew the rooms in both these areas and needed extra space for patients and staff.
As requested by patients, both collection rooms are set up to be easy to find, handy to get to, and have nice surroundings and minimal waiting. Opening hours remain the same as the old rooms.
Cryoglobulin tests are no longer performed on site
Cryoglobulin tests are no longer performed on site at Aotea Pathology due to the very small volume of requests.
This test can best be provided by Wellington and Hutt Hospital laboratories where there is specialised equipment for the stringent sample collection requirements.
Advise patients needing a Cryoglobulin test sample to go to Wellington Hospital's laboratory outpatient collection centre or Hutt Hospital's laboratory collection centre.
eLab rollout moving south
Rollout of eLab to primary care practices in the Kapiti area is now well under way, and we plan to complete the process to all practices by mid-2012.
We are starting to make contact with all primary care practices in the Hutt Valley and Capital & Coast District Health Board districts to work with them to introduce eLab.
We provide training and ongoing support to each practice as we install eLab.
There is information about eLab on our website at http://apath.co.nz/elab. It includes a demonstration video and a step-by-step user guide.
Change over to new fees in November went smoothly
Last month, charges ceased for private specialist referred tests and restricted funding for some tests came in: the changeover appears to have gone smoothly.
The small number of tests that are specialist restricted can still be ordered by GPs.
A patient charge will apply for restricted tests except where the GP provides -- on the request form -- the clinical indication for the test and the name of a registered medical specialist who approved the test.
Allergy testing
ASCIA (Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy) provides guidelines to medical and allied health practitioners throughout Australia and New Zealand with regards to skin prick testing.
In order for us to maintain accreditation from IANZ we must follow these guidelines.
For our staff to maintain competencies to perform both of these tests they are required to perform a minimum number each month.
Following a recent review we have established that the number of tests performed in the Kapiti area falls well short of the numbers necessary for competency to be maintained.
For these reasons, the decision has been made, in conjunction with our clinical immunologist Dr Richard Steele, to cease this testing at our Waikanae collection rooms.
Skin allergy and Mantoux testing will continue to be available at our Courtenay Place rooms where staff are performing larger numbers on a regular basis and will be able to provide expert care for your patient.
Appointments can be made by phoning 04 381 5900 and pressing 3 at the prompt.