Common test name Primary test name Specimen Container Referred test Patient cost Comments/Instructions
Rabies Virus antibodies Rabies Virus antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
Radioallergosorbent Testing (RAST) Specific IgE Testing for Allergens Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No  Request slip must specify which allergens are required. Consult laboratory if necessary. Venepunctur... (more)  
Rash swab, Microscopy and culture Skin swab, Microscopy and culture Skin swab  Transswab- swab in transport medium  No  No   
RAST testing Specific IgE Testing for Allergens Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No  Request slip must specify which allergens are required. Consult laboratory if necessary. Venepunctur... (more)  
RBG Glucose, Random Blood  Fluoride oxalate Tube 2 ml  No  No   
Rectal Swab for Gonococcal Culture Rectal Swab for Gonococcal Culture Rectal swab  Transswab- swab in transport medium  No  No   
Rectal swab for Group B streptococcus screen Group B streptococcus screen Low Vaginal swab  Transswab- swab in transport medium  No  No  Rectal swab may also be processed. Low vaginal swab  
Rectal Swab for Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci VRE (Vancomycin resistant Enterococci) screen Swab  Transswab- swab in transport medium  No  No  Alternatively a perineal skin swab may be collected Use a Transswab, gently rotate the swab inside t... (more)  
Red Cell Cholinesterase Cholinesterase, Red Cell Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Red Cell Ferritin Red Cell Ferritin Blood  Lithium Heparin Tube  Yes  No  DO NOT CENTRIFUGE Venepuncture.  
Red Cell Folate Red Cell Folate Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  No  No  Protect from light. Venepuncture  
Red Cell Magnesium Red Cell Magnesium Blood  Lithium Heparin Tube  Yes  No  DO NOT CENTRIFUGE. Venepuncture.  
Red Cell Phenotype Red Cell Phenotype Blood  Plain Tube 10 ml  No  No   
Red Cell Transketolase Vitamin B1 Blood  Lithium Heparin Tube  Yes  No  DO NOT CENTRIFUGE. PROTECT FROM LIGHT; cover container with foil Venepuncture. .  
Red Cell Zinc Red Cell Zinc Blood  Lithium Heparin Tube  Yes  No   
Reducing substances, faeces Faeces, Reducing Substances   N/A  No  No   
Renal Biopsy, Histology Histology, Renal Biopsy Tissue, renal biopsy needle core.  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  No  No  Prior notice of biopsy is requested to allow prompt handling of tissue. Deliver within 10 minutes ... (more)  
Renal stones Calculi, Urinary Calculus  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  No  No   
Renin Renin Blood  EDTA Tube 6ml  Yes  No  Do NOT place on ice. A Separate completely filled tube required. Deliver to Laboratory within 4 hour... (more)  
Reptilase Clotting Time Reptilase Clotting Time Blood  Sodium citrate Tube 2.7 ml  No  No  Sodium citrate tubes must be filled to the line. Keep at 4ºC, deliver within 4 hours. Venepuncture  
Respiratory Investigation for Acid-Fast Bacilli 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)  
Respiratory Specimen, Microscopy and Culture Sputum, Microscopy and Culture Sputum  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  No  No  Bronchial suction trap containers are available from the laboratory If TB is suspected, 3 early morn... (more)  
Respiratory Specimen, microscopy for Pneumocystis Pneumocystis carinii, Microscopy Sputum, Bronchoalveolar lavage OR Bronchial washings  Bronchial Suction Trap Container  No  No  Induction or physiotherapy as required or collection at bronchosopy Collected by referring Clinician... (more)  
Respiratory Syncytial Virus antibodies (RSV antibodies) Respiratory Syncytial Virus antibodies (RSV 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)  
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Antigen (RSV Antigen) 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)  
Respiratory Syncytial Virus PCR Respiratory Viral PCR   Sterile container  Yes  No   
Respiratory Viral PCR Respiratory Viral PCR   Sterile container  Yes  No   
retics Reticulocyte Count Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  No  No   
Reticulocyte Count Reticulocyte Count Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  No  No   
Retinol Vitamin A Blood  Lithium Heparin Tube  Yes  No  PROTECT FROM LIGHT; cover container with foil. Place on ice and deliver to laboratory WITHIN 4hrs o... (more)  
Reverse T3 Reverse T3 Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  Yes   
RF Rheumatoid Factor Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Rheumatoid Factor Rheumatoid Factor Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Rhinovirus PCR Respiratory Viral PCR   Sterile container  Yes  No   
Ri antibodies Anti-Ri antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Riboflavin Vitamin B2 Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Rickettsial antibodies Rickettsial antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
Rickettsial Culture Rickettsial PCR Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Rickettsial PCR Rickettsial PCR Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
RICOF Ristocetin Co-factor Blood  Sodium citrate Tube 2.7 ml  Yes  No  Sodium citrate tubes must be filled to the line. Keep at 4ºC, deliver within 4 hours. Venepuncture  
Rifadin Rifampicin   N/A  No  No   
Rifampicin Rifampicin   N/A  No  No   
Rimycin Rifampicin   N/A  No  No   
Risperdal Risperidone Blood  Lithium Heparin Tube WITHOUT GEL  Yes  No   
Risperidone Risperidone Blood  Lithium Heparin Tube WITHOUT GEL  Yes  No   
Ristocetin Co-factor Ristocetin Co-factor Blood  Sodium citrate Tube 2.7 ml  Yes  No  Sodium citrate tubes must be filled to the line. Keep at 4ºC, deliver within 4 hours. Venepuncture  
Rivotril Clonazepam Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No  Trough level - collect at least 6-8 hours after last dose. Venepuncture. Date, time and dose of las... (more)  
RNA Polymerase Ab RNA Polymerase Ab Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
RNAP RNA Polymerase Ab Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Ross River Virus antibodies (RRV antibodies) Ross River Virus antibodies (RRV 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)  
Rotavirus antigen Faeces, Detection of Viral antigens Faeces (random X 1)  Faeces container  No  No  Specimen must arrive in laboratory within 24 hours of collection. Parasite kits (for clinicians) a... (more)  
RPR Test, (Syphilis Testing) Syphilis Serology Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Rubella Virus antibodies Rubella Virus antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  Yes  Please indicate if testing is for acute infection or detection of immunity. Venepuncture.  
Rubeola antibodies Measles Virus antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  Yes   
Rythmodan Disopyramide Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No  Trough level - collect at least 6-8 hours after last dose. Venepuncture. Date and Time of last dos... (more)