1. Home
  2. Health professionals
  3. Pathology handbook

Pathology handbook

Acanthamoeba Investigation (Corneal Scraping)

Test Code: 
ACANT
Department: 
Microbiology
Pseudonyms: 
Acanthamoeba culture - parasitic investigation
Collection Requirements: 
Corneal scraping - Cultured directly on culture media at bedside (see note).
Reference Range: 
Availability: 
Daily (Mon - Fri)
Requires own tube?: 
Yes
Internal Spec Code: 
TIS
Fee: 
Contact reference laboratory directly for up to date fee advice.
Reference Laboratory: 
St Vincent's Hospital PathologyLevel 2, IPS Building41 Victoria ParadeFitzroy, Vic 3065tel 03 9288 2888fax 03 9288 4224
Laboratory: 
Microbiology
Ring the Micobiology Department for a collection kit

Acanthamoeba Investigation (Corneal Swab)

Test Code: 
ACANS
Department: 
Microbiology
Pseudonyms: 
Acanthamoeba culture - parasitic investigation
Collection Requirements: 
Corneal swab - Cultured directly on culture media at bedside (see note).
Reference Range: 
Availability: 
Daily (Mon - Fri)
Requires own tube?: 
Yes
Internal Spec Code: 
TIS
Fee: 
Contact reference laboratory directly for up to date fee advice.
Reference Laboratory: 
St Vincent's Hospital PathologyLevel 2, IPS Building41 Victoria ParadeFitzroy, Vic 3065tel 03 9288 2888fax 03 9288 4224
Laboratory: 
Microbiology
Ring the Micobiology Department for a collection kit

Acanthamoeba PCR

Test Code: 
ACANP
Tube Colour: 
Yellow top universal
Department: 
Microbiology
Pseudonyms: 
Acanthamoeba PCR - parasitic investigation
Collection Requirements: 
Corneal tissue/swab
Reference Range: 
Availability: 
Daily (Mon - Fri)
Requires own tube?: 
Yes
Internal Spec Code: 
TIS or Sw
Fee: 
Contact reference laboratory directly for up to date fee advice.
Reference Laboratory: 
St Vincent's Hospital PathologyLevel 2, IPS Building41 Victoria ParadeFitzroy, Vic 3065tel 03 9288 2888fax 03 9288 4224
Laboratory: 
Microbiology

Acetyl Choline Receptor Ab

Test Code: 
ACRAB
Tube Colour: 
Gold
Department: 
Biochemistry
Pseudonyms: 
AChR Antibodies, Antibodies to the Acetylcholine Receptor(Anti-Acetylcholine Receptor Antibodies; Anti Acetylcholine Receptor Antibodies; ACR Antibodies, AChR Antibodies)
Collection Requirements: 
8.5 ml serum tube
Reference Range: 
<0.25 nmol/L Negative; 0.25-0.4 nmol/L Equivocal; >0.4 nmol/L Positive
Availability: 
Fortnightly
Requires own tube?: 
No

Acquired JAK2 (Val617Phe) Mutation

Test Code: 
PJK14
Tube Colour: 
Lavender
Department: 
Haematology
Pseudonyms: 
JAK 2 Mutation; JAK2 Kinase Mutation Analysis
Collection Requirements: 
3 - 10 ml EDTA Whole Blood or 1-3mL Bone Marrow
Reference Range: 
Availability: 
1-2 weeks to result
Requires own tube?: 
Yes
Internal Spec Code: 
EW, BM
Fee: 
Contact reference laboratory directly for up to date fee advice.
Reference Laboratory: 
Peter MacCallum Cancer CentrePathology Department Level 4305 Grattan StreetMelbourne, Vic 3000
Laboratory: 
Molecular Haematology
Specimen MUST be delivered to laboratory within 24 hours of collection (Mon - 3pm Fri, excluding public holidays)

ACTH Stimulation Test

Test Code: 
Cort, 17OHP
Tube Colour: 
Light Green
Department: 
Biochemistry
Pseudonyms: 
Collection Requirements: 
Refer to Dynamic Tests in Pathology home page
Reference Range: 
Availability: 
Daily
Requires own tube?: 
No
Internal Spec Code: 
Fee: 

Acyclovir

Test Code: 
ACYC
Tube Colour: 
Gold
Light Green
Department: 
Biochemistry
Pseudonyms: 
Collection Requirements: 
8.5 ml Serum or 4.5 ml Lithium Heparin
Reference Range: 
No RI ug/ml
Availability: 
Fortnightly
Requires own tube?: 
No
Internal Spec Code: 
Fee: 
Reference Laboratory: 
Pathology Queensland - Central LaboratoryLevel 4, Block 7Herston Hospitals CampusRoyal Brisbane & Women's HospitalHerston RoadHerston, Qld 4029tel 07 3646 3636fax 07 3646 6160

Acylcarnitine Screen (Guthrie card)

Test Code: 
ACARN
Tube Colour: 
GUT
Department: 
Biochemistry
Pseudonyms: 
Collection Requirements: 
Spot on Guthrie card
Reference Range: 
Availability: 
Fortnightly
Requires own tube?: 
No
Internal Spec Code: 
Fee: 
Reference Laboratory: 
Victorian Clinical Genetics Services (VCGS)Royal Children's HospitalLevel 4, East Building50 Flemington RoadParkville, Vic 3052tel 03 8341 6201fax 03 8341 6390

Adalimumab

Test Code: 
ADAL
Tube Colour: 
Gold
Department: 
Biochemistry
Pseudonyms: 
Collection Requirements: 
8.5 ml serum tube
Reference Range: 
mg/L
Availability: 
Fortnightly
Requires own tube?: 
No
Internal Spec Code: 
Fee: 
Reference Laboratory: 
Alfred Hospital - GastroenterologyAlfred Centre, Ground Floor99 Commercial RoadMelbourne 3004tel 03 9076 2223mob 0425 423 797 Fax 03 9076 2194

Adenosine deaminase (Fluid)

Test Code: 
FLADA
Tube Colour: 
Gold
Department: 
Biochemistry
Pseudonyms: 
ADA, Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylase, PNP
Collection Requirements: 
8.5 ml serum tube
Reference Range: 
<50 U/L
Availability: 
Fortnightly
Requires own tube?: 
No
Internal Spec Code: 
Fee: 
Reference Laboratory: 
Pathology Queensland - Central LaboratoryLevel 4, Block 7Herston Hospitals CampusRoyal Brisbane & Women's HospitalHerston RoadHerston, Qld 4029tel 07 3646 3636fax 07 3646 6160

Adenovirus DNA PCR (BAL)

Test Code: 
HMVAD
Tube Colour: 
Yellow top universal
Department: 
Microbiology
Pseudonyms: 
Collection Requirements: 
Bronchial Alveolar lavage collected in sterile container
Reference Range: 
Availability: 
Daily (Mon - Fri)
Requires own tube?: 
Yes
Internal Spec Code: 
BAL
Fee: 
Laboratory: 
Microbiology

Adenovirus DNA PCR (blood)

Test Code: 
AVP
Tube Colour: 
Lavender
Department: 
Microbiology
Pseudonyms: 
Collection Requirements: 
9 ml EDTA
Reference Range: 
Availability: 
Daily (Mon - Fri)
Requires own tube?: 
Yes
Internal Spec Code: 
EwL
Fee: 
Contact reference laboratory directly for up to date fee advice.
Reference Laboratory: 
Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL)
Laboratory: 
Microbiology

Adenovirus DNA PCR (Bronchial Washing)

Test Code: 
HMVAD
Tube Colour: 
Yellow top universal
Department: 
Microbiology
Pseudonyms: 
Collection Requirements: 
Bronchial Washing
Reference Range: 
Availability: 
Daily (Mon - Fri)
Requires own tube?: 
Yes
Internal Spec Code: 
BW
Fee: 
Laboratory: 
Microbiology

Adenovirus DNA PCR (misc)

Test Code: 
AVP
Tube Colour: 
Yellow top universal
Department: 
Microbiology
Pseudonyms: 
Collection Requirements: 
Eye, corneal swabs, urine, Tissue
Reference Range: 
Availability: 
Daily (Mon - Fri)
Requires own tube?: 
Yes
Internal Spec Code: 
Fee: 
Contact reference laboratory directly for up to date fee advice.
Reference Laboratory: 
Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL)
Laboratory: 
Microbiology

Adenovirus DNA PCR (Sputum)

Test Code: 
HMVAD
Tube Colour: 
Yellow top universal
Department: 
Microbiology
Pseudonyms: 
Collection Requirements: 
Sputum
Reference Range: 
Availability: 
Daily (Mon - Fri)
Requires own tube?: 
Yes
Internal Spec Code: 
Sp
Fee: 
Laboratory: 
Microbiology

Adenovirus Serology

Test Code: 
ADENS
Tube Colour: 
Gold
Department: 
Microbiology
Pseudonyms: 
Collection Requirements: 
8.5 ml serum tube
Reference Range: 
Availability: 
Daily (Mon - Fri)
Requires own tube?: 
Yes
Internal Spec Code: 
S
Fee: 
Contact reference laboratory directly for up to date fee advice.
Reference Laboratory: 
Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL)
Laboratory: 
Microbiology

Adrenal Antibody

Test Code: 
ADAB
Tube Colour: 
Gold
Department: 
Biochemistry
Pseudonyms: 
Anti-Adrenal Antibodies (Adrenal Antibodies)
Collection Requirements: 
8.5 ml serum tube
Reference Range: 
Availability: 
Fortnightly
Requires own tube?: 
No
Internal Spec Code: 
Fee: 
Medicare rebatable
Laboratory: 
Immunology

Adrenal Vein Sampling

Test Code: 
ADVS
Tube Colour: 
Gold
Department: 
Biochemistry
Collection Requirements: 
All samples are collected in serum tubes and AVS packs are available in Radiology
Reference Range: 
Availability: 
Daily
Requires own tube?: 
No

Adrenaline

Test Code: 
ADR
Tube Colour: 
Green On Ice
Department: 
Biochemistry
Pseudonyms: 
Collection Requirements: 
4.5mL Lithium Heparin on ice
Reference Range: 
0.0 - 1.0 nmol/L
Availability: 
Weekly
Requires own tube?: 
No
Internal Spec Code: 
Fee: 
Reference Laboratory: 
Austin PathologyAustin Hospital145 Studley RoadHeidelberg, Vic 3084tel 03 9496 3100fax 03 9496 1674

Adrenaline(Urine)

Test Code: 
U24CAT
Tube Colour: 
Urine (24 Hr Acid)
Department: 
Biochemistry
Pseudonyms: 
Collection Requirements: 
24 Hr Urine (acid bottle, pH<3.0)
Reference Range: 
no ref int nmol/L
Availability: 
Weekly
Requires own tube?: 
No
Internal Spec Code: 
Fee: 

Adrenaline: Creat Ratio(Urine)

Test Code: 
U24CAT
Tube Colour: 
Urine (24 Hr Acid)
Department: 
Biochemistry
Pseudonyms: 
Collection Requirements: 
24 Hr Urine (acid bottle, pH<3.0)
Reference Range: 
<10 nmol/mmol
Availability: 
Weekly
Requires own tube?: 
No
Internal Spec Code: 
Fee: 

Adreno Corticotrophic Hormone

Test Code: 
ACTH
Tube Colour: 
Pink On Ice
Department: 
Biochemistry
Pseudonyms: 
ACTH, Adrenocorticotrophin, Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone Adrenocorticotrophin
Collection Requirements: 
6 ml EDTA on ice
Reference Range: 
1.6 - 13.9 pmol/L
Availability: 
Weekly
Requires own tube?: 
No
Internal Spec Code: 
Fee: 

Alanine Aminotransferase

Test Code: 
ALT
Tube Colour: 
Light Green
Gold
Department: 
Biochemistry
Pseudonyms: 
ALT, GPT, Transaminase
Collection Requirements: 
4.5 ml Lithium Heparin or 8.5 ml Serum
Reference Range: 
M <40, F <35 U/L
Availability: 
Daily
Requires own tube?: 
No
Internal Spec Code: 
Fee: 

Alb Creat Ratio (Urine)

Test Code: 
UALB
Tube Colour: 
Urine (24 Hr Plain)
Department: 
Biochemistry
Pseudonyms: 
Collection Requirements: 
Urine (24 Hr plain)
Reference Range: 
M< 2.5, F<3.5 mg/mmol
Availability: 
Daily
Requires own tube?: 
No
Internal Spec Code: 
Fee: 

Albumin (Plasma)

Test Code: 
ALB
Tube Colour: 
Light Green
Gold
Department: 
Biochemistry
Pseudonyms: 
Collection Requirements: 
4.5 ml Lithium Heparin or 8.5 ml Serum
Reference Range: 
35 - 50 g/L
Availability: 
Daily
Requires own tube?: 
No
Internal Spec Code: 
Fee: