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New Testing Innovations

First Trimester Screening (FTS)

First Trimester Screening is the current recommended screening program to identify women with an increased risk of having an affected foetus with chromosomal aneuploidy such as Down syndrome (Trisomy 21), Edwards syndrome (Trisomy 18) or Patau syndrome (Trisomy 13).Combined FTS (cFTS) includes the Multiple of Medians (MoMs) of two blood chemistry results, pregnancy-associated placental protein-A (PAPP-A) and free β-human chorionic gonadotropin (free β-hCG), along with the ultrasound Nuchal Translucency (NT) measurement to assess the risk of aneuploidy. This assessment has 90% sensitivity and 95% specificity for Down syndrome.Benefits of cFTS
• Recommended by clinical guidelines for pregnant women of all age groups.
• Early detection of Down syndrome with a rate of >90%.
• Reduces the number of invasive tests.
• The test is safe.
• Non-invasive.
• It can be offered to pregnant women with failed Non-Invasive Pre-natal Testing (NIPT).
• MoM values of PAPP-A could be predictive of IUGR or Pre-eclampsia risk.

FTS Brochure

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

Respiratory PCR

Australian Clinical Labs’ Multiplex PCR respiratory assay detects 15 viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens improving identification of the causative agent and allowing the clinician to instigate appropriate treatment in a timely manner. The young, the elderly and patients with compromised cardiac, pulmonary or immune systems are at greatest risk of serious disease. Approximately 15% of pneumonias in children are caused by Parainfluenza Virus whilst an additional 20% are due to Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection. RSV is the most commonly identified agent in 75% of children under two years of age who are hospitalised for bronchiolitis.

Respiratory PCR Tests Available:

  • Influenza A & B
  • RSV (A & B)
  • Parainfluenza 1, 2, 3 & 4
  • Influenza A H1N1 2009 (Swine)
  • Influenza A H5N1 (Avian)
  • Human Metapneumovirus
  • Human Adenovirus
  • Human Rhinovirus
  • Bordetella Pertussis
  • Chlamydophila Pneumoniae
  • Mycoplasma Pneumoniae

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.

Vitamin D

Severe vitamin D deficiency will result in Osteomalacia. Low vitamin D levels are also associated with Osteoporosis, increased fracture risk and falls. Additionally, a wide range of diseases have been associated with low levels of circulating serum vitamin D, including autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, some cancers, microbial and respiratory diseases and some neurological and mental health conditions. Most of the current evidence is observational but randomised controlled trials are underway and it is hoped these will provide the evidence base for these associations.

Benefits of the being tested
Assess the vitamin D status to ascertain which patients would benefit from vitamin D supplementation and thus reduce the risk of falls, fractures and other sequelae of low serum vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D Brochure

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.