CLINIPATH PATHOLOGY TEST LISTING FACTOR ASSAYS
Specimen Required: 2 x Sodium citrate tubes FACTOR V LEIDEN
Specimen Required: 1 x Sodium citrate tube
Patient must have written history of DVT or pulmonary embolism for the gene mutation analysis to be done under Medicare.
FAD (VITAMIN B2)
Specimen required: 1 x Lithium Heparin (NO GEL) FAECAL ELASTASE
Specimen required: Faeces, specimen should be sent in a brown screw topped faeces container. Department:
Referred test. Freeze and send on dry ice
FAECAL FATS
TEST NO LONGER PERFORMED: SUPERCEDED BY FAECAL ELASTASE
The specimen should be taken if possible from a portion of the stool showing blood or mucus, if present. The quantity of specimen should be about the size of a walnut and should be sent in a brown screw topped faeces container. The specimen should be as fresh as possible.
The Medicare Benefits Schedule allows for the culture of only one faeces specimen in a seven-day period. (See also section B below).
Routine culture of faeces includes investigation for Salmonella, Shigella and Campylobacter. If other pathogens are suspected from the history or clinical setting (e.g. Clostridium difficile yersinia, vibrio.), this needs to be requested specifically and clinical details provided, eg. Antibiotic therapy, overseas travel etc.
(B) FOR PARASITES AND HELMINTHS
The Medicare Benefits Schedule allows for concentration of faeces for ova, cyst and parasite microscopy on only two specimens in a seven-day period. One of these specimens may also be tested by special techniques for Giardia and Cryptosporidium. One of these specimens may also be cultured, as described in section A above.
If pinworm is suspected, the cellotape method should be used for collecting the specimen. A short length of clear cellotape is pressed several times onto the perianal skin and then stuck down onto a glass slide. A specimen collected first thing in the morning is best.
If Dientamoeba fragilis is suspected, use special containers with a fixative available from the Microbiology Department.
CLINIPATH PATHOLOGY TEST LISTING (C) VIRAL
Rotovirus and adenovirus 40/41 tested in the Microbiology Department, Norovirus performed at Pathwest by PCR.
Faeces testing for enteric viruses is not included in the examinations described above and
must be requested specifically, eg. “viral studies”, “rotavirus” ± “adenovirus” and “norovirus”. Rotavirus and adenovirus are common causes of diarrhoea in the paediatric age group and should be suspected in adults parenting infected children. Norovirus is a common cause of diarrhoea in debilitated and elderly patients. Norovirus previously know as Norwalk, calici and small round virus.
In order to help the Laboratory to optimise the detection of gastrointestinal specimens and comply with the Medicare Benefits Schedule, doctors are asked to request faeces examination in the following way: Specimen 1: M,C&S; O,C&P Specimen 2: O,C&P and add viral studies as indicated. (D) FOR OCCULT BLOOD Two type of test are performed for Faecal occult blood detection, a chemical test and an immunological test
A fresh stool should be collected on three (3) separate days and submitted to the Laboratory as soon as possible. There are no dietary restrictions, as interference is not caused by Vitamin C, iron tablets etc. Interference can occur with the chemical test but not usually with immunological test.
An immunological test method is used which is more sensitive and specific than chemical methods, however false results may still be obtained, both false positive and false negative. The test detects human haemoglobin and is very sensitive at detecting bleeding from the lower gastro-intestinal tract. Please note that the presence of frank blood may interfere with the test result.
(E) REDUCING SUBSTANCES
A fresh faeces sample is required. This sample must be kept refrigerated, see requirements below:
If time from collection to testing is <2hr - refrigerate at 4 degrees C transport in esky
If time from collection to testing is 2-6 hr - refrigerate at 4 degrees C transport in esky taped to an ice brick.
If time from collection to testing is >6hr - sample must be frozen. If MC&S is requested on same request form and sample is to be frozen, two samples will need to be collected with one being frozen. FASTING METABOLIC BONE STUDY FERRITIN Serum (1 x SST)
HIGH - Iron overload, (Haemosiderosis, Haemochromatosis) liver damage, infection,
CLINIPATH PATHOLOGY TEST LISTING FIBRINOGEN 1 x Sodium citrate.
LOW - Liver failure, haemorrhage, dysfibrinogenaemia, disseminated intravascular coagulation
FIBRIN / FIBRINOGEN DEGRADATION PRODUCTS ( FDP ) FILARIA SEROLOGY / DETECTION
Specimen required: Serum (1 x SST)
May detect various worms, including Wucheria and Onchcerea.
Some microfilaria worms may also be detected in blood films made in Haematology
FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY FIRST TRIMESTER SCREENING (PAPP-A, FREE BETA HCG) Serum (1 x SST) - Blood must be spun and frozen within 6 hours of collection Attach Process Immediately sticker Collect BETWEEN 100 & 136 weeks gestation. Double check gestation/EDD before blood is collected. Please complete check list provided for this test. Always performed in conjunction with an ultrasound. Test can be performed anytime within the required gestation dates of 100 and 136. The blood is no longer required to be taken a certain number of days before/after the ultrasound. Results are issued direct to the Ultrasonographer. Ultrasound practitioner will calculate the Risk of Downs using biochemical markers and Nuchal Translucency Measurement from ultrasound. Under no circumstances discourage a woman who presents for this test for the sake of a timeframe - the process is flexible provided the blood is taken between 100 and 136. FK506 ( TACROMILUS LEVEL ) 1 x EDTA – refrigerate sample after collection.
Sample preferably in the morning at least 12 hours post dose or just prior to next dose.
FLUORESCENT IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION STUDIES (FISH TESTS) FLUORIDE Serum (1 x SST), Spot Urine
If testing for occupational exposure, spot urine is the specimen of choice.
Patient will be invoiced directly. Refer to Main Laboratory for current charging.
FLUOXETINE 1 x Heparin NO GEL. Collect PRE-DOSE sample (Trough). CLINIPATH PATHOLOGY TEST LISTING FOLATE /FOLIC ACID ( RED CELL FOLATE ) If FOLATE is requested, Red Cell Folate will be assayed.
Red cell folate is less affected by diet than serum folate and is an indication of total body folate.
FOLIC ACID ( SERUM FOLATE ) Serum (1 x SST) + 1 x ETDA
Serum folate reflects folate absorption in the past week. Only assayed if SERUM Folate is specified, as Red Cell Folate is the assay of choice. FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE ( FSH ) Serum (1 x SST) FRAGILE X FREE ANDROGEN INDEX ( FAI ) Serum (1 x SST)
TESTOSTERONE & SEX HORMONE BINDING GLOBULIN.
FREE LIGHT CHAINS
Specimen required: Serum (1x SST) Department:
Kappa Free Light Chains in mg/L (NR <19.4)
Lambda Free Light Chains in mg/L (NR <26.3) and Kappa/Lambda ratio (NR 0.3-1.7)
FREE TESTOSTERONE (CALCULATED FREE TESTOSTERONE Serum (1 x SST)
Best calculated index of free (active) testosterone
CLINIPATH PATHOLOGY TEST LISTING FRUCTOSAMINE Serum (1 x SST)
The result is indicative of the circulating levels of glucose over the previous 17 days (which is the half-life of Albumin). The report will include an estimation of the mean blood glucose level in the patient over that period.
FULL BLOOD EXAMINATION ( FBC )
Neonates: EDTA heel prick at Main Laboratory.
Reference range: ADULT
Mean Cell Hb Conc.(MCHC): 31.0 - 36.0 g/dL
Paediatric and Child Reference ranges are available. FUNGAL CULTURE
See specific samples including SKIN SCRAPING
FUNGAL SEROLOGY Serum (1 x SST) CLINIPATH PATHOLOGY TEST LISTING
July 2013 Advising on this article: M. Lynn Crismon July 5, 2013 Should FDA backpedal on citalopram warning? New study shows higher doses not associated with arrhythmia, death Key Point Citalopram (Celexa—Forest; various generics) doses greater than 40 mg daily were not associated with increased riskof ventricular arrhythmia or all-cause, cardiac, or noncardiac mortality as compare