Common test name Primary test name Specimen Container Referred test Patient cost Comments/Instructions
B12 Vitamin B12 Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
b-27 HLA B-27 Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  No  No   
B2GPI antibodies Anti-Beta-2-Glycoprotein I antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
B2M Beta 2-Microglobulin Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Bacterial rDNA PCR Bacterial rDNA PCR Fluid, Tissue OR blood.  Sterile container  Yes  No   
Bactrim Bactrim Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No  Trough level - collect at least 6-8 hours after last dose. Do NOT freeze either blood or separated ... (more)  
BAL Cytology, Bronchio-Alveolar Lavage BAL (Bronchioalveolar Lavage)  Bronchial Suction Trap Container  No  No  Sample may be shared with Microbiology. Please check other laboratory collection requirements. Colle... (more)  
Balanitis Penile Swab Penile swab  ENT/urethral swab- wire swab in transport medium  No  No  The work-up performed is dependent on the clinical notes provided. Viral and chlamydia PCR kits ar... (more)  
Barbiturates Drug Screen, Urine Urine  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  No  No  All urine drug screens should be supervised. Indicate that the collection was supervised by writing... (more)  
Barbiturates, Urine Barbiturates, Urine Urine  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  No  No  All urine drug screens should be supervised. Indicate that the collection was supervised by writing... (more)  
Barmah Forest Virus antibodies Barmah Forest Virus antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No  Please provide date of onset of illness or exposure Venepuncture  
Bartholin's Gland Swab or Aspirate, M&C Bartholin's Gland Swab or Aspirate, M&C Pus or Swab  Transswab- swab in transport medium  No  No  Clinical notes required. Pus or swab of Bartholin's gland collected by referring clinician.  
Bartonella henselae antibodies Cat Scratch Disease antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No  Please provide date of onset of illness. Venepuncture.  
Basement Membrane of Skin antibodies Anti-Basement Membrane of Skin antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
BCL-1 BCL-1 Blood and/or Bone Marrow  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
BCL-2 BCL-2 Bone Marrow  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
BCR-ABL t(9;22)RT PCR BCR-ABL t(9;22)RT PCR Blood and/or Bone Marrow  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD) Genetic Testing Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD) Genetic Testing Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Bence Jones Protein Protein Electrophoresis, Urine Early morning urine  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  No  No   
Benzodiazepines Drug Screen, Urine Urine  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  No  No  All urine drug screens should be supervised. Indicate that the collection was supervised by writing... (more)  
Benzodiazepines, Serum Benzodiazepines, Serum Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
Benzodiazepines, Urine Benzodiazepines, Urine Urine  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  No  No  All urine drug screens should be supervised. Indicate that the collection was supervised by writing... (more)  
Benzylpenicillin Penicillin G Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No  Trough level - collect at least 6-8 hours after last dose. Venepuncture. Date, time and dose of las... (more)  
Beta 2-Microglobulin Beta 2-Microglobulin Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Beta hCG Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Beta-2-Glycoprotein I antibodies Anti-Beta-2-Glycoprotein I antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Beta-hydroxy Butyrate Beta-hydroxy Butyrate Blood  Fluoride oxalate Tube 2 ml  Yes  No   
Beta-Interferon ABS Interferon Antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No  Specimen must be frozen Specimen must be collected at least 24 hours post dose  
Beta-Sitosterol Beta-Sitosterol Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No  Overnight flight to Adelaide. Venepuncture; Do NOT collect on Friday or weekends  
Bete-carotene Carotene   Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
BF Blood Film Examination Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  No  No   
BHCG Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
BHCG Qualitative Pregnancy Test (Qualitative test for hCG) Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
B-Hydroxy Butyrate Beta-hydroxy Butyrate Blood  Fluoride oxalate Tube 2 ml  Yes  No   
Bicarbonate Bicarbonate Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No  Avoid haemolysis; haemolysed samples are unsuitable. Fill tube at least half-way if possible; speci... (more)  
Bile Acids Bile Acids Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No  Overnight Fast Venepuncture.  
Bile Acids, Urine Bile Acids, Urine Urine  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  Yes  No   
Bile, Microscopy and culture Bile, Microscopy and culture Bile  Sterile container  No  No   
Bilharzia- urine specimen Urine, Terminal specimen for schistosomes Terminal specimen of urine  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  No  No   
Bilirubin fractionation Direct Bilirubin Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No  Protect specimen from light if it will not reach the laboratory for more than 6 hours. Venepuncture.  
Bilirubin, Total Bilirubin, Total Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No  Protect from light, especially neonatal samples Venepuncture.  
B-Interferon antibodies Anti-Interferon antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No  Collect specimen AT LEAST 24 hours (can be longer) after last Interferon dose Venepuncture  
Biological testing- Steriliser Spore strips Biological indicator  Biological indicators  No  No   
Bite wound, Microscopy and culture Wound swab, Microscopy and culture Wound swab  Transswab- swab in transport medium  No  No   
BK Virus DNA BK Virus DNA   CSF tube(s)  Yes  Yes   
Bl Gp & ab's Blood Group and Antibody Screen Blood  EDTA Tube 6ml  No  No  Group & Hold and Crossmatch specimens can only be held for 3 (three) days. BUT if the patient is NOT... (more)  
Bleeding Time Bleeding Time Blood  N/A  No  No   
Blister swab, Microscopy and culture Skin swab, Microscopy and culture Skin swab  Transswab- swab in transport medium  No  No   
Blood Arsenic Arsenic, Whole Blood Blood  Lithium Heparin Tube  Yes  No  DO NOT CENTRIFUGE Venepuncture.  
Blood Cadmium Cadmium, Whole Blood Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No  DO NOT CENTRIFUGE Venepuncture.  
Blood Carnitine Profile Carnitine: Free/Total Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No  Do NOT collect on Friday or weekends Venepuncture. Plasma Specimen Preferred.  
Blood Chromium Chromium, Whole Blood Blood  Lithium Heparin Tube  Yes  No   
Blood Cultures Blood Cultures Blood  Blood culture bottles (BACTEC) Aerobic and anaerobic  No  No  Contact the Pathology Department to obtain special bottles for specific investigations e.g. TB or pa... (more)  
Blood Cultures, Mycobacterium Blood Cultures, Mycobacterium Blood  Blood culture bottles (BACTEC) Mycolytic  No  No  Mycolytic blood culture bottles are available from laboratory on request. DO NOT refrigerate under ... (more)  
Blood Film Examination Blood Film Examination Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  No  No   
Blood Gases (Includes Glucose & Electrolytes) Blood Gases (Includes Glucose & Electrolytes) Blood  Syringe * Blood Gas  No  No  Arterial blood collection required. Only collected by Patient services staff with current competency... (more)  
Blood Group and Antibody Screen Blood Group and Antibody Screen Blood  EDTA Tube 6ml  No  No  Group & Hold and Crossmatch specimens can only be held for 3 (three) days. BUT if the patient is NOT... (more)  
Blood Lead Lead, Whole Blood Blood  Lithium Heparin Tube  Yes  No  DO NOT CENTRIFUGE Venepuncture.  
Blood Manganese Manganese, Whole Blood Blood  Lithium Heparin Tube  Yes  No  DO NOT CENTRIFUGE Venepuncture DO NOT CENTRIFUGE  
Blood Mercury Mercury, Whole Blood Blood  EDTA Tube 6ml  Yes  No  DO NOT CENTRIFUGE THE SPECIMEN. Venepuncture.  
Blood Myoglobin Myoglobin, Serum Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
Blood porphyrins Porphyrins, Blood Blood  Lithium Heparin Tube  Yes  No  PROTECT FROM LIGHT; cover container with foil. DO NO CENTRIFUGE Venepuncture. PROTECT FROM LIGHT; ... (more)  
Blood Presure Monitor Blood Presure Monitor Monitor Recording  N/A  Yes  Yes  Book recording with Collection Centre, PRIVATE PATIENTS ONLY Only collected by Patient Services Staf... (more)  
BMD gene Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD) Genetic Testing Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
BNP B-type Natriuretic Peptide Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  No  Yes  A separate tube is required for BNP. Venepuncture  
Boil swab, Microscopy and culture Skin swab, Microscopy and culture Skin swab  Transswab- swab in transport medium  No  No   
Bone Marrow Aspiration or Trephine Bone Marrow Aspiration or Trephine Bone marrow  EDTA Tube 4 ml  No  No  Contact Haematology on 9288 4226. By appointment only. May include culture, cytogenetics, cytochem... (more)  
Bone Marrow for Metabolid Bone Disease, Histology Histology, Bone Marrow for Metabolic Bone Disease Bone biopsy or trephine  Formalin container  No  No  Deliver within 1 hour. Collected by referring Clinician.  
Bone Marrow Trephine Biopsy, Histology Histology, Bone Marrow Trephine Biopsy Bone marrow, trephine needle core  Formalin container  No  No   
Bordetella pertussis antibodies Bordetella pertussis antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No  Please provide date of onset of illness. Venepuncture  
Bordetella pertussis PCR Bordetella pertussis PCR   Sterile container  Yes  Yes   
Bordetella pertussis, Microscopy and culture Nasopharyngeal Swab, Microscopy and culture Nasopharyngeal aspirate or pernasal swab  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  No  No  Nasopharyngeal aspirate is the preferred specimen. Include clinical details such as sinusitis, CSF l... (more)  
Borrelia Burgdorferi antibodies Lyme Disease antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
BP Monitor Blood Presure Monitor Monitor Recording  N/A  Yes  Yes  Book recording with Collection Centre, PRIVATE PATIENTS ONLY Only collected by Patient Services Staf... (more)  
BRCA1 Breast Cancer Genes Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
BRCA2 Breast Cancer Genes Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Breast Cancer Genes Breast Cancer Genes Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Breast Cyst Fluid Cytology, Cyst Fluid Cyst Fluid  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  No  No  Sample may be shared with Microbiology. Please check other laboratory collection requirements. Colle... (more)  
Breath test for Helicobacter pylori Helicobacter pylori breath test Kit available from Stores  Breath test kit container  Yes  No  See Patient Preparation. 1. Check that patient has adhered to patient preparation instructions. PAT... (more)  
Bromide, Urine Bromide, Urine Urine  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  Yes  No   
Bronchial Brushings Cytology, Bronchial Brush Bronchial Brushing  Glass Slide  No  No  See collection instructions Collected by referring clinician. Label glass slide in pencil on the fr... (more)  
Bronchial Washing Cytology, Bronchial Wash Bronchial Washings  Bronchial Suction Trap Container  No  No  Sample may be shared with Microbiology. Please check other laboratory collection requirements. Colle... (more)  
Bronchial washings Broncho/Alveolar Lavage, Microscopy and Culture Bronchial washings, broncho/alveola lavage  Bronchial Suction Trap Container  No  No  Keep at 4º until delivered to the laboratory. Fungal and TB culture are performed routinely, indic... (more)  
Bronchioalveolar Lavage Cytology, Bronchio-Alveolar Lavage BAL (Bronchioalveolar Lavage)  Bronchial Suction Trap Container  No  No  Sample may be shared with Microbiology. Please check other laboratory collection requirements. Colle... (more)  
Broncho/Alveolar Lavage, Microscopy and Culture Broncho/Alveolar Lavage, Microscopy and Culture Bronchial washings, broncho/alveola lavage  Bronchial Suction Trap Container  No  No  Keep at 4º until delivered to the laboratory. Fungal and TB culture are performed routinely, indic... (more)  
Brucella abortus antibodies Brucella abortus antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No  If blood is drawn during the acute phase of the illlness please send convalescent sample 2 weeks lat... (more)  
Brushings Cytology, Bronchial Brush Bronchial Brushing  Glass Slide  No  No  See collection instructions Collected by referring clinician. Label glass slide in pencil on the fr... (more)  
B-type Natriuretic Peptide B-type Natriuretic Peptide Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  No  Yes  A separate tube is required for BNP. Venepuncture  
Burn swab, Microscopy and culture Skin swab, Microscopy and culture Skin swab  Transswab- swab in transport medium  No  No   
Bursa Fluid, Microscopy and culture Synovial Fluid, Microscopy and culture Synovial Fluid  Sterile container  No  No