Welcome

Please select your view



Register now

Forgot login details?

istock_000050116708_fulljpg

Clinical Labs Pathology Testing

Coeliac Disease

If left untreated, coeliac disease can lead to major health complications for patients and severely affect their quality of life. To achieve an accurate diagnosis, a series of steps need to be carefully followed, to avoid patients being misdiagnosed and unnecessarily implementing restrictive life-long changes to their diet.
See the below brochure 'Coeliac Disease: The pathway to an accurate diagnosis' for more information.

Coeliac Disease Brochure

Vitamin D Testing

Vitamin D levels fluctuate significantly depending on the season, especially in the Southern states of Australia. At the end of winter, approximately 36% of Australians are vitamin D deficient, in comparison to 14% at the end of summer. Therefore, making the end of winter the best time to test patients for vitamin D deficiency.

For clinical recommendations on target vitamin D levels, when to test, who to test, vitamin D testing at Clinical Labs and treatment for insufficiency, see the below brochure.

Vitamin D Brochure

Early Onset Pre-Eclampsia Screening

Clinical Labs is now offering the Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) blood test, for early diagnosis of pre-eclampsia, which can develop in any pregnancy. The test measures the amount of PlGF, the preferred serum marker for pre-eclampsia, in the patient’s blood. The PIGF test should to be carried out between 11 and 14 weeks of gestation, as in order to be effective, treatment needs to commence before 16 weeks of pregnancy.

Patient Brochure

Doctor Newsletter Article

 

Respiratory PCR

As of 5th June 2019, laboratory confirmed notifications of influenza where already greater than for the whole of 2018.

Early confirmation is critical in ensuring timely clinical management along with minimising progression to a more serious illness.

Other respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus and parainfluenza viruses have been associated with severe lower respiratory tract infection in children. There has also been a resurgence of RSV in the elderly due to waning immunity. It is not always easy to distinguish these infections based on a clinical picture.
Our multiplex PCR to diagnose influenza and respiratory viral infections will provide you with a quick and accurate diagnosis allowing you to instigate earlier targeted treatment.

Respiratory PCR Tests Available:

  • Influenza A & B
  • RSV (A&B)
  • Parainfluenza 1, 2 & 3
  • Human Metapneumovirus
  • Human Adenovirus
  • Human Enterovirus/Rhinovirus
  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae
  • Bordetella pertussis
  • Bordetella parapertussis

Aspect Liquid Biopsy

Australian Clinical Labs is the first national, private laboratory in Australia to introduce the innovation of Aspect Liquid Biopsy, which uses the latest technology to detect the recurrence of cancer using cfDNA biomarkers for colorectal, lung and melanoma patients. The process for patients is the same as a standard blood test which is non-invasive, pain free, and saves patients the time and cost of enduring a hospital procedure. Genes sequenced in these panels are KRAS, PIK3CA, BRAF (EGFR) for colorectal, KRAS, PIK3CA, BRAF, EGFR (incl. T790M) for lung and NRAS, BRAF for melanoma.

Aspect Liquid Biopsy Doctor Brochure

Click here for more information on Aspect

Harmony NIPT

HARMONY PRENATAL TEST is a DNA-based blood screening test for Down syndrome. Harmony is more accurate than traditional tests and can be performed as early as 10 weeks, the Harmony Prenatal Test assesses the risk of trisomy 21 with unsurpassed accuracy in pregnant women, of any age or risk. In the first and only prospective blinded study of its kind published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Harmony Prenatal Test proved superior to traditional first trimester combined screening for both detection rate and false-positive rate.
Why Choose Harmony?
  • Unsurpassed accuracy for any age or risk (Less than 0.1% false-positive rate for trisomy 21)
  • Most widely used test–in over a million pregnancies and over 105 countries
  • Performed as early as 10 weeks, with results in about 10 business days or less
  • May minimize invasive procedures caused by false-positive results
Three Steps to Clarity
  1. Refer your patient to Australian Clinical Labs for a blood test at 10 weeks or later in pregnancy.
  2. Australian Clinical Labs submits your patient’s sample and sends a fax to you confirming this.
  3. Receive results from Australian Clinical Labs in approximately 10 business days or less.

Harmony Brochure

Gene Access Carrier Screen

Gene Access is a carrier screen that tests for Cystic Fibrosis (CF), Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) which can be done before or during pregnancy.

Gene Access Brochure

Faecal PCR

The new Enteric Multiplex PCR is now available at Australian Clinical Labs. Australian Clinical Labs Enteric Multiplex PCR can detect 13 enteric pathogens responsible for both viral and protozoal gastroenteritis within a single assay. Gastroenteritis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although the mortality in developed countries like Australia is much lower than developing countries, the morbidity and economic consequences are still high. Of the enteric pathogens, viruses are the most common cause of gastroenteritis and account for over 60% of cases, while enteric protozoa continue to be the most commonly encountered cause of parasitic diseases, affecting millions of people each year. Request Faecal MCS + PCR.

Faecal PCR Brochure

Disaccharidases

Symptoms of defiency

  • A disaccharidase deficiency can resemble dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
  • Chronic diarrhoea is probably the most consistent symptom in all of the sugar malabsorption syndromes.
  • Coeliac patients on a gluten-free diet who have persistent symptoms, or develop symptoms, should be investigated for a disaccharidase deficiency.
  • Infants and children can experience more severe symptoms than adults.
  • Undigested carbohydrates can be detected in their stool which can be of watery consistency and acidic in nature.

Who needs to be tested?

Patients who experience meal-related symptoms of carbohydrate intolerance. Disaccharidase deficiency can be classified as either primary (genetically determined) or secondary (due to underlying disease process which can be excluded by histological investigation). Actual enzyme deficiency can be confirmed by means of tissue disaccharidase activity as this is not possible by histological investigation.

Calprotectin

Understanding Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Clinical Labs faecal Calprotectin test is a highly sensitive marker for evaluating inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. It offers a simple, reliable, and non-invasive test for discriminating between Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Calprotectin plays a regulatory role in the inflammatory process. Faecal calprotectin levels are significantly elevated in patients with IBD, and correlate well with endoscopic and histological assessment of disease activity. Patients suffering from IBS do not have increased faecal calprotectin values. This test can also help to monitor IBD disease activity, the risk of IBD relapse and the response of IBD to therapy.

Guide to Pathology Tests

Please find below a useful reference guide for doctors on pathology tests. This quick reference guide may be useful in some clinical situations. The suggested investigations are neither comprehensive nor applicable in all circumstances. Tests should be selected after consideration of the patient’s clinical history, signs, symptoms and previous test results. For further information, please contact our pathologists, senior scientists or refer to The Royal College of Pathologists of Australia manual at www.rcpamanual.edu.au

Download Guide to Pathology Tests Brochure