| Common test name | Primary test name | Specimen | Container | Referred test | Patient cost | Comments/Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAB | Interferon Antibodies | Blood | Serum Separator Tube (SST) | Yes | No | Specimen must be frozen Specimen must be collected at least 24 hours post dose |
| NAB | Anti-Interferon antibodies | Blood | Serum Separator Tube (SST) | Yes | No | Collect specimen AT LEAST 24 hours (can be longer) after last Interferon dose Venepuncture |
| Nail Clippings, for Dermatophyte Investigation- Nail | Nail Clippings, for Dermatophyte Investigation- Nail | Nail clippings | Urine/Specimen container 50ml | No | No | |
| Nappy rash swab, Microscopy and culture | Skin swab, Microscopy and culture | Skin swab | Transswab- swab in transport medium | No | No | |
| NARP mutation | NARP mutation | Blood | EDTA Tube 4 ml | Yes | No | |
| Nasal Sinus Swab, Microscopy and culture | Nasal Sinus Swab, Microscopy and culture | Sinus swab | ENT/urethral swab- wire swab in transport medium | No | No | |
| Nasal Swab, Microscopy and culture | Nasal Swab, Microscopy and culture | Swab | Transswab- swab in transport medium | No | No | For MRSA Surveillance the same swab stick may be used. Position patient upright with head extended b... (more) |
| Nasogastric aspirate, Microscopy and culture | Gastric aspirate, Microscopy and culture | Aspirate, gastric | Sterile container | No | No | Gastric aspirate in sterile container. In infants swabs of gastric contents are satisfactory. Del... (more) |
| Nasopharyngeal aspirate for Bordetella pertussis | Bordetella pertussis PCR | Sterile container | Yes | Yes | ||
| Nasopharyngeal aspirate for Bordetella pertussis | 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) |
| Nasopharyngeal aspirate for RSV | Respiratory Syncytial Virus Antigen (RSV Antigen) | Nasopharyngeal aspirate or swab | Sterile container | No | No | Urgent Nasopharyngeal swabs are collected by referring clinician or by Patient Services Staff with c... (more) |
| Nasopharyngeal aspirate for viral PCR | Respiratory Viral PCR | Sterile container | Yes | No | ||
| Nasopharyngeal Swab, Bordetella pertussis PCR | Bordetella pertussis PCR | Sterile container | Yes | Yes | ||
| Nasopharyngeal Swab, 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) |
| NEFA | Free Fatty Acids | Blood | Fluoride oxalate Tube 2 ml | Yes | No | |
| Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Detection by PCR | Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Detection by PCR | Urine/Specimen container 50ml | No | No | NG PCR cannot be performed on eye swabs, throat swabs or rectal swabs, collection of a swab for cult... (more) | |
| Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Detection by PCR in urine | Urine, Neisseria gonorrheae PCR | First catch urine | Urine/Specimen container 50ml | No | No | See collection instructions. Collect a first stream urine on both male and female patients. Lable ... (more) |
| Neisseria meningitidis, Detection of DNA by polymerase chain reaction (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) | |
| Neoral | Cyclosporin | Blood | EDTA Tube 4 ml | No | No | |
| Nephrostromy Urine | Urine, Nephrostomy Specimen for Microscopy and Culture | Urine, nephrostomy specimen | Urine/Specimen container 50ml | No | No | Hold at 4º pending transport to the laboratory. Random Urine. |
| Nerve Biopsy, Histology | Histology, Nerve Biopsy | Nerve tissue. Fresh tissue for Immunofluorescence. | Nerve Biopsy Kit | No | No | Nerve biopsy kit available from Anatomical Pathology. Deliver within 1 hour. Collected by referrin... (more) |
| Neuronal antibodies | Anti-Neuronal antibodies | Blood | Serum Separator Tube (SST) | No | No | |
| Neurone Specific Enolase, (NSE) | Neurone Specific Enolase, (NSE) | Blood | Serum Separator Tube (SST) | Yes | No | Avoid Haemolysis; haemolysed samples are unsuitable. Place on ice and deliver to laboratory WITHIN ... (more) |
| Neurontin | Gabapentin | Blood | Plain Tube 10 ml | Yes | No | |
| Neutralising 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 |
| Neutrophil Cytoplasmic antibodies | Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Ab's | Blood | Serum Separator Tube (SST) | No | No | |
| NH3 | Ammonia | Blood | Lithium Heparin Tube | No | No | Place specimen on ice and deliver IMMEDIATELY to laboratory WITHIN 15 minutes of collection. Venepun... (more) |
| Niacin, Urine | Niacin, Urine | N/A | No | No | ||
| Nickel, Urine | Nickel, Urine | Urine | Urine/Specimen container 50ml | Yes | No | |
| Nipple Discharge, cytology | Cytology, Nipple Discharge | Nipple Discharge | Glass Slide | No | No | |
| Nits | Hair, for Microbiological Investigation | Hair | Urine/Specimen container 50ml | No | No | |
| NMO Antibodies | NMO Antibodies | Blood | Serum Separator Tube (SST) | Yes | No | For CSF Samples, Consult Senior Biochemistry Staff. Venepuncture |
| Noradrenaline, Urine | Catecholamines, Urine | Timed Urine | Urine container Acid 24 hour | No | No | |
| Norepinephrine | Catecholamines, Urine | Timed Urine | Urine container Acid 24 hour | No | No | |
| Norovirus PCR | Norovirus PCR | Faeces (Random x1) | Faeces container | Yes | No | This test may be requested as part of an investigation of an outbreak of gastroenteritis. Please dis... (more) |
| Norovirus PCR - Faeces | Faeces, Viral Agents | Faeces (random X 1) | Faeces container | Yes | No | Please specify which viruses to investigate. Routine investigation: Rotavirus and adenovirus antig... (more) |
| Nortryptilline | Nortryptilline | Blood | Plain Tube 10 ml | Yes | No | No Gel Consult senior biochemist prior to collection |
| Nose Swab, Microscopy and culture | Nasal Swab, Microscopy and culture | Swab | Transswab- swab in transport medium | No | No | For MRSA Surveillance the same swab stick may be used. Position patient upright with head extended b... (more) |
| Nose swab-MRSA | 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) |
| N-Telopeptides | N-Telopeptides | Urine | Urine/Specimen container 50ml | Yes | No | |
| NTX | N-Telopeptides | Urine | Urine/Specimen container 50ml | Yes | No | |
| Nuelin | Theophylline | Blood | Serum Separator Tube (SST) | Yes | No |