Common test name Primary test name Specimen Container Referred test Patient cost Comments/Instructions
MAG Antibodies Anti-MAG Antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  Yes   
Magnesium Magnesium Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Magnesium, Red Cell Red Cell Magnesium Blood  Lithium Heparin Tube  Yes  No  DO NOT CENTRIFUGE. Venepuncture.  
Malarial Parasite Investigation Malarial Parasite Investigation Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  No  No  Notify the laboratory that a malaria screen is in transit on 9288 4226. Note on request form if fev... (more)  
Mammary Serum Antigen Mammary Serum Antigen Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
Manganese Manganese Blood  Lithium Heparin Tube  Yes  No   
Manganese, Whole Blood Manganese, Whole Blood Blood  Lithium Heparin Tube  Yes  No  DO NOT CENTRIFUGE Venepuncture DO NOT CENTRIFUGE  
Manual differential Differential White Cell Count Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  No  No   
Marevan levels Warfarin levels Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Mast Cell Tryptase Tryptase Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  Yes  Must be collected WITHIN 6 hours of (after) anaphylactic incident. Venepuncture.  
Mastoid Swab Mastoid Swab Swab  Transswab- swab in transport medium  No  No   
Maternal Serum Screening Maternal Serum Screening Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No  Note clearly on Request Form; - Gestional age (indicate if this is from L.K.M.P. or ultrasound) - ... (more)  
Maxillary Sinus Swab, Microscopy and culture Nasal Sinus Swab, Microscopy and culture Sinus swab  ENT/urethral swab- wire swab in transport medium  No  No   
Measles Virus antibodies Measles Virus antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  Yes   
Melanogen Melanogen Urine  **Sterile container  Yes  No  Protect specimen from light (wrap container in foil) Urine specimen must be a fresh collection.  
MELAS mutation MELAS mutation Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Men II A Men II A Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No  Send 2 Tubes Collect 2 Tubes. Patient will incur out of pocket expenses, approx $1000  
Meningococcal PCR Neisseria meningitidis, Detection of DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)   **Sterile container  Yes  No  Testing must be approved by Department of Human Services. Contact the Microbiology Laboratory. Col... (more)  
Mercury, Urine Mercury, Urine Urine  Urine container Acid-Washed 24 hour  Yes  No   
Mercury, Whole Blood Mercury, Whole Blood Blood  EDTA Tube 6ml  Yes  No  DO NOT CENTRIFUGE THE SPECIMEN. Venepuncture.  
MERRF mutation MERRF mutation Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Mesomark Mesothelin Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
Mesothelin Mesothelin Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
Metabolic Screen, Urine Metabolic Screen, Urine Urine  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  Yes  No   
Metanephrines Metanephrines Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Metanephrines, Urine Metanephrines, Urine Urine  Urine container Acid 24 hour  Yes  No   
Methadone 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)  
Methadone, Urine Methadone, Urine Urine  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  No  No  All urine drug screens should be supervised. Indicate that the collection was supervised by writing... (more)  
Methanol Methanol Blood  Fluoride oxalate Tube 2 ml  Yes  No   
Methotrexate, CSF Methotrexate, CSF CSF  CSF tube(s)  Yes  No  Dose detials on Request Form. Collected by referring Clinician.  
Methotrexate, Serum Methotrexate, Serum Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Methyl Histamine, Urine Methyl Histamine, Urine Urine  Urine container Acid 24 hour  Yes  No  Special diet. PATIENT INSTRUCTIONS: Label 24 hour urine bottle with your full name and date and tim... (more)  
Methyl Histamine, Urine Histamine Histamine, Urine Urine  Urine container Acid 24 hour  Yes  No   
Methyl Malonic Acid Methyl Malonic Acid BLOOD  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
Methylene Tetrahydrofolate Reductase Methylene Tetrahydrofolate Reductase Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Methylene Tetrahydrofolate Reductase Mutation Methylene Tetrahydrofolate Reductase Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Mexiletine Mexiletine Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No  Trough level - collect at least 6-8 hours after last dose. Venepuncture. Date, time and dose of la... (more)  
MG Magnesium Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Microalbumin Microalbumin Urine  Urine container 200ml  No  No   
Mitochondrial antibodies Anti-Mitochondrial antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Mitochondrial Studies Mitochondrial Studies Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Molybdenum Molybdenum Blood  Lithium Heparin Tube  Yes  No   
Monospot Test, (Epstein Barr Virus antibodies) Epstein Barr Virus antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  Yes   
Morphine Morphine Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No  Not to be collected in tube containing gel Consult senior scientists in Biochemistry, St Vincent's H... (more)  
Motor Neurone Disease Screening Motor Neurone Disease Screening Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No  Send out both tubes within 48 hours of collection. Collect 2 tubes  
Mouth Swab Oral Swab, Hard Palate or Soft Palate Swab of mouth  Transswab- swab in transport medium  No  No  A Virocult swab must be used if viral investigations are requested. Mouth and gums: Use a Transwab... (more)  
MPA Mycophenolate Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
MPO antibodies Anti-Myeloperoxidase antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
MRSA Screen MRSA Screen Swab, nose, perineum, and other sites, if required  Transswab- swab in transport medium  No  No  If three sets of swabs are required for clearance, collect on three consecutive days, not all on one... (more)  
MS Mitochondrial Studies Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
MSA Mammary Serum Antigen Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
MSH2 Mutation Testing Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
MSU or Clean Catch Urine Urine, Mid-stream for Microscopy and culture Urine, midstream specimen  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  No  No  Hold urine at 4º pending transport to the laboratory. PATIENT INSTRUCTIONS: FEMALE 1. Write your... (more)  
MTHFR Methylene Tetrahydrofolate Reductase Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
MTX Methotrexate, Serum Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia II A Men II A Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No  Send 2 Tubes Collect 2 Tubes. Patient will incur out of pocket expenses, approx $1000  
Mumps Virus antibodies Mumps Virus antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  Yes   
Muraminidase (Lysozyme) Lysozyme Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
Murray Valley Encephalitis Virus antibodies Murray Valley Encephalitis Virus antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
Murray Valley Encephalitis Virus PCR Flavivirus PCR Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  Yes  Clinical details essential. Tests can also performed on CSF. Venepuncture.  
Muscle Biopsy, Histology Histology, Muscle Biopsy Tissue, muscle tissue.  Muscle Biopsy Kit  No  No  Muscle biopsy kit available from Anatomical Pathology. Deliver within 1 hour. Collected by referri... (more)  
Muscle Enzymes CK (Creatine Kinase) Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Muscle Specific Kinase (MuSK) antibodies Anti-MuSK Antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
Muscular Dystrophy Testing Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD) Genetic Testing Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Mutation Testing Mutation Testing Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Mycobacteria investigation- blood 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)  
Mycobacteria investigation- fluid Aspirated fluid - Mycobacteria investigation Fluid  Sterile container  No  No   
Mycobacteria investigation- sputum Sputum - Mycobacteria investigation Sputum  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  No  No  Three early morning specimens If patient is ordered a nebulizer, administer prior to specimen collec... (more)  
Mycobacteria investigation- tissue Tissue, for AFB Investigation Tissue  Sterile container  No  No   
Mycobacteria investigation- urine Urine, Early morning for Mycobacterium Urine  Urine container 200ml  No  No  Three early morning urine voidings Submit entire urine voided. Minimise contamination. Hold urine... (more)  
Mycophenolate Mycophenolate Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibodies Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  Yes  If blood is drawn during the acute phase of the illlness please send convalescent sample 2 weeks lat... (more)  
Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibodies Ig G and IgM Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  Yes  If blood is drawn during the acute phase of the illlness please send convalescent sample 2 weeks lat... (more)  
Myeloperoxidase antibodies Anti-Myeloperoxidase antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Myocardial CK (CKMB) CKMB (Creatine Kinase MB isoform) Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Myoglobin, Serum Myoglobin, Serum Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
Myoglobin, Urine Myoglobin, Urine Urine  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  Yes  No   
Myotonic Dystrophy (Triplet Repeat) Genetic Testing Myotonic Dystrophy (Triplet Repeat) Genetic Testing Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Mysoline Primidone Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No  Trough level - collect at least 6-8 hours after last dose. Venepuncture. Date, time and dose of la... (more)