Clinical Labs offers a variety of tests to help you monitor patients presenting with cardiac-related symptoms. These range from on the spot ECG through to 24 hour Holter and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor Update
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AMBULATORY BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORS
Why choose ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM)?
Recognised as a gold standard test for blood pressure assessment, ABPM provides interval measurement over 24hrs for a full diagnostic assessment of blood pressure, while allowing for circadian rhythm and white coat or masked hypertension concerns. It is also effective in the assessment of drug effects, patient activity and work influence while providing better correlation with end-organ damage than isolated BP readings.
- Expert interpretation by cardiologist
- Rapid report turnaround
How does ABPM work?
Automatic cuff inflation every 30 minutes during the day and every 1 hour overnight, with ambulatory pulse waves, peripheral
blood pressure, central haemodynamics, and arterial stiffness measured over a period of 24hrs to create a haemodynamic day/night profile. At the end of each test, comprehensive analysis is completed and a report is provided by experienced
cardiologists.
How to order:
Step 1 - Complete a Clinical Labs referral form and request 24 hour ABPM monitor.
Step 2 - Patients will need to call a Clinical Labs Collection Centre offering this service to book a time to collect and be fitted with their ABPM. ABPMs are available at select Clinical Labs collection centres. To find the nearest collection centre offering ABPM, visit clinicallabs.com.au/location and select ‘BP Monitor’ from the ‘All Facilities’ drop down box.
Patients in SA will need to call (08) 8205 5644.
Please note: This service is not currently available in WA or the NT.
Turn-around time:
Your patient’s ABPM report will be available 3 business days from the return of the ABPM to the Clinical Labs Collection Centre.
Medicare Benefits Schedule Changes
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HOLTER MONITORS
The resting 12-lead electrocardiograph (ECG) only gives a rhythm snapshot in time, whereas arrhythmias may be short-lived, paroxysmal and even asymptomatic, making documentation in many patients very difficult. Ambulatory ECG monitoring has been developed as a means of recording the ECG over a set period of time in patients suspected of having cardiac arrhythmias. A Holter monitor is preferable to all other monitoring as it provides a 24 hour window of the heart rate changes and can be partnered to symptoms.
Arrhythmia indications for ambulatory ECG monitoring
- Cardiac palpitations
- Unexplained syncope or dizziness
- Suspected slow heart rhythms
- Hereditary ‘‘electrical” abnormalities
- Evaluate the abnormal ECG; ectopy and heart block
- Cryptogenic stroke evaluation to document paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
- Evaluation of success of either antiarrhythmic or ablative therapy
- Evaluation of ventricular tachycardia
- Paediatric monitoring
- Following acute myocardial infarction
- Potentially lethal arrhythmias with congestive and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Monitor cardiac implantable electronic device therapy
- Chest pain or dyspnoea thought to be associated with arrhythmias
The role of GPs in cardiac testing
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How to order:
Step 1 - Complete a Clinical Labs referral form and request 24 hour Holter monitor.
Step 2 - Patients will need to call a Clinical Labs Collection Centre offering this service to book a time to collect and be fitted with their Holter monitor. Holter monitors are available at select Clinical Labs collection centres. To find the nearest collection centre offering Holter monitors, visit clinicallabs.com.au/location and select ‘Holter’ from the ‘All Facilities’ drop down box.
Patients in SA will need to call (08) 8205 5644.
Please note: This service is not currently available in WA or the NT.
Cost:
The out-of-pocket cost is $40 for Medicare card holders for the first 24 hours. Testing is bulk billed for pension card holders. Medicare rebatable only once in a 4-week period. For each additional 24 hours, the out-of-pocket cost is $185.50. Please note: Testing for inpatients is not covered by Medicare.
In South Australia, Medicare card holders are bulk billed for the first 24 hours, but for each additional 24 hours, the out-of-pocket cost is $185.50.
Turn-around time:
Your patient’s Holter monitor report will be available within 3 business days from the return of the Holter monitor to the Clinical Labs Collection Centre..
Clinical article
Holter Monitors and their Importance in the Identification of Cardiac Arrhythmias by Associate Professor Harry G Mond OAM
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ECG
Since its introduction as a clinical investigative tool, the 12-lead ECG has been the gold standard for recognition of cardiac arrhythmias.
How to order:
Step 1 - Complete a Clinical Labs referral form and request an ECG.
Step 2 - ECG is a walk in service, there is no need to book. Your patient can attend any Clinical Labs Collection Centre offering the ECG service. The ECG service is available at select Clinical Labs collection centres. To find the nearest collection centre offering this service, visit clinicallabs.com.au/location and select ‘ECG’ from the ‘All Facilities’ drop down box.
Please note: This service is not currently available in WA or the NT.
Cost:
Out of pocket cost of $40 for Medicare card holders, bulk billed for pension card holders ($45 out of pocket for inpatients).
SA - Bulk billed for Medicare card holders ($45 out of pocket for inpatients).
Turn-around time:
Your patient’s ECG report will be available 4 hours after their test at the Clinical Labs Collection Centre.
To speak to a member of our cardiac services team today, call 1300 134 111 and follow the prompts.