Common test name Primary test name Specimen Container Referred test Patient cost Comments/Instructions
Sabril Vigabantrin Blood  N/A  No  No   
Salicylate Salicylate Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No  Note time of collection in relationship to suspected overdose. Venepuncture  
Saliva for CMV Investigation Cytomegalovirus Investigation (CMV DNA by PCR) Urine, Saliva, Tissue, Blood OR Faeces  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Salivary Duct antibodies Anti-Salivary Duct antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Salmonella Faeces, Microscopy and culture Faeces  Faeces container  No  No  Clinical notes determine type of culture performed. Specimen must arrive in laboratory within 24 h... (more)  
Salmonella antibodies Salmonella antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
SARS- Coronavirus Serology SARS- Coronavirus Serology Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No  Test only available if patient satisfies WHO case definition. Venepuncture.  
SCA types 1-7 Spinal Cerebellar Ataxia Screening Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Scabies- skin scrapings Skin Scrapings, for Dermatophyte Investigation Skin scrapings  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  No  No   
Schistosoma antibodies Schistosoma antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
Schistosomes- urine specimen Urine, Terminal specimen for schistosomes Terminal specimen of urine  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  No  No   
Scleral swab Lacrimal swab Swab OR Pus  Transswab- swab in transport medium  No  No  Clinical notes required. Collected by referring Clinician.  
Scrub typhus - PCR Rickettsial PCR Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Scrub Typhus antibodies Rickettsial antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
SDH Testing Succinyl Dehydrogenase Deficiency Genetic Testing Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Sebaceous cyst swab, Microscopy and culture Skin swab, Microscopy and culture Skin swab  Transswab- swab in transport medium  No  No   
Second trimester 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)  
Selenium Selenium Blood  Lithium Heparin Tube  Yes  No   
Semen Analysis Fertility Semen Analysis Fertility Semen  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  Yes  Yes  Appointments must be made for All semen analysis procedures, even if the sample is to be collected a... (more)  
Semen analysis post vasectomy Semen analysis post vasectomy Semen  **Sterile container  Yes  Yes  Appointments must be made for ALL semen analysis procedures, even if the sample is to be collected f... (more)  
Sensitive CRP CRP, High-sensitivity Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
Sensitive Testosterone Testosterone, Sensitive Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
Seroma fluid, Microscopy and culture Pus, Microscopy and culture Pus  Sterile container  No  No  None. The referring clinician collects samples from unruptured abscesses by aspiration of contents w... (more)  
Seroquil Quetiapine Blood  Lithium Heparin Tube WITHOUT GEL  Yes  No  Trough level - collect at least 6-8 hours after last dose. Venepuncture. Date, time and dose of las... (more)  
Serotonin Serotonin Blood  Plain Tube 10 ml  Yes  No  Specimen must reach the Laboratory within 4 hours of collection. Plasma is not suitable. Gel tubes ... (more)  
Sertraline Sertraline Urine  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  Yes  No   
Serum Amino Acids Amino Acid Screen, Serum Blood  Lithium Heparin Tube  Yes  No  Must be Frozen Venepuncture; Place on ICE and deliver to laboratory WITHIN four hours of collection  
Serum Cotinine Cotinine, Serum Blood  **plain tube 10ml  Yes  No   
Serum Histamine Histamine, Serum Blood  Lithium Heparin Tube WITHOUT GEL  Yes  No  DO NOT CENTRIFUGE, Specimen must be collected with 10 minutes of anaphylactic episode. Venepuncture  
Serum Lipids Lipid Profile (Total Cholestesterol & Triglycerides) Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No  Fasting specimen preferred (10hr overnight fast). HDL-Cholesterol must be specifically requested if ... (more)  
Serum Protein Electrophoresis, SEP Protein Electrophoresis, Serum Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Serum Viscosity Serum Viscosity Blood  Plain Tube 10 ml  No  No   
Settle plates Air samples Agar plates  Agar plates (settle plates)  No  No  Contact Microbiology laboratory to organise supply of agar plates State sampling method and time of ... (more)  
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin Sex Hormone Binding Globulin Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Shigella Faeces, Microscopy and culture Faeces  Faeces container  No  No  Clinical notes determine type of culture performed. Specimen must arrive in laboratory within 24 h... (more)  
Short Synacthen Test Short Synacthen Test Blood (x3)  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No  NOTE: MUST BE PERFORMED UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION due to risk of anaphylaxis, therefore the test is... (more)  
sickle cell anemia Sickle Cell Test Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  No  No   
Sickle Cell Test Sickle Cell Test Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  No  No   
sickling Sickle Cell Test Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  No  No   
Sirolimus Sirolimus Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  No  No  Trough level - collect at least 6-8 hours after last dose. Venepuncture. Date, time and dose of las... (more)  
Skeletal Muscle antibodies Anti-Skeletal Muscle antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Skin Bleeding time Bleeding Time Blood  N/A  No  No   
Skin Scrapings, for Dermatophyte Investigation Skin Scrapings, for Dermatophyte Investigation Skin scrapings  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  No  No   
Skin swab, Microscopy and culture Skin swab, Microscopy and culture Skin swab  Transswab- swab in transport medium  No  No   
Slapped cheek disease antibodies Parvovirus B19 antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  Yes  None. Venepuncture.  
SMA Gene Testing Spinal Muscular Atrophy Genetic Testing Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Smooth Muscle antibodies Anti-Smooth Muscle antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
SOD mutation SOD mutation Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No  Testing will ONLY be performed with accompanying letter from doctor stating family history and reaso... (more)  
Sodium Sodium Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Sodium, Faeces Sodium, Faeces Random faeces  Faeces container  No  No  Faecal samples should be at least semi-liquid in nature. Solid, well-formed stool specimens are not ... (more)  
Sodium, Urine Sodium, Urine Urine  Urine container Plain 24 hour  No  No   
Soluble Transferrin Receptors Soluble Transferrin Receptors Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
Somatomedin C (IGF1) Insulin Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No  Place specimen on ice and deliver to laboratory within 4 hours of collection. Venepuncture.  
Somatostatin Somatostatin   N/A  No  No   
Somatotrophin (Growth Hormone) Growth Hormone, (hGH) Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Specific IgE Testing for Allergens 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)  
Sperm antibodies Sperm antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
Sphenoid Sinus Swab, Microscopy and culture Nasal Sinus Swab, Microscopy and culture Sinus swab  ENT/urethral swab- wire swab in transport medium  No  No   
Sphingomyelinase Sphingomyelinase Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Spinal Cerebellar Ataxia Screening Spinal Cerebellar Ataxia Screening Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Genetic Testing Spinal Muscular Atrophy Genetic Testing Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Spirochaetes Syphilis Serology Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Sporanox Itraconazole 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)  
Spore strips Spore strips Biological indicator  Biological indicators  No  No   
Spotted fever - PCR Rickettsial PCR Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
Spotted Fever antibodies Rickettsial antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
Sputum - Mycobacteria investigation 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)  
Sputum, cytology Cytology, sputum Sputum  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  No  No  Three specimens on three successive days should be collected. Sample may be shared with Microbiolog... (more)  
Sputum, 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)  
SST Short Synacthen Test Blood (x3)  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No  NOTE: MUST BE PERFORMED UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION due to risk of anaphylaxis, therefore the test is... (more)  
Staphylex Flucloxacillin 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)  
Steriliser testing Spore strips Biological indicator  Biological indicators  No  No   
Steris testing Spore strips Biological indicator  Biological indicators  No  No   
Steroid Metabolites Steroid Profile Urine  Urine container Alkaline 24 hour  Yes  No   
Steroid Profile Steroid Profile Urine  Urine container Alkaline 24 hour  Yes  No   
Stitch abscess swab, Microscopy and culture Wound swab, Microscopy and culture Wound swab  Transswab- swab in transport medium  No  No   
Stool, Microscopy and Culture Faeces, Microscopy and culture Faeces  Faeces container  No  No  Clinical notes determine type of culture performed. Specimen must arrive in laboratory within 24 h... (more)  
Streptococcal antibodies ASOT, (Anti-Streptolysin O Titre) Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen Urine  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  Yes  No   
Streptolysin O Titre ASOT, (Anti-Streptolysin O Titre) Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
Striated Muscle antibodies Anti-Skeletal Muscle antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Strongyloides stercoralis antibodies Strongyloides stercoralis antibodies Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No   
Sub arachnoid haemorrhage CSF CSF Routine Microscopy and Culture CSF  CSF tube(s)  No  No  A minimum of two sequentially numbered tubes must be collected, to investigate suspected sub-arachno... (more)  
Sub-dural or Sub-galeal Fluid Sub-dural or Sub-galeal Fluid Fluid or syringe.  Sterile container  No  No   
Sub-Retinal Fluid Cytology, Sub-Retinal Fluid Sub-Retinal Fluid  Syringe 2ml  No  No  Sample may be shared with Microbiology, Biochemistry,Flow Cytometry. Please check other laboratory ... (more)  
Succinyl Dehydrogenase Deficiency Genetic Testing Succinyl Dehydrogenase Deficiency Genetic Testing Blood  EDTA Tube 4 ml  Yes  No   
sugar Glucose, Random Blood  Fluoride oxalate Tube 2 ml  No  No   
Sugar Water Test Sugar Water Test Blood  Sodium citrate Tube 2.7 ml  No  No  Consult laboratory on 9288 4226. Test by appointment only. Sodium citrate tubes must be filled to ... (more)  
Sulphamethoxazole 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)  
Sulphonylurea Sulphonylurea Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  Yes  No  Specimen must be Frozen Collect within 24 hours of Hypoglycaemic Attack  
Supra-Pubic Aspirate of Urine Urine, Supra-Pubic Aspirate Specimen for Microscopy and Culture Urine, suprapubic aspirate  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  No  No  Hold at 4º pending transport to the laboratory. Collected by referring Clinician.  
Surface Marker Studies Surface Marker Studies Blood or bone marrow  EDTA Tube 4 ml  No  No   
Swan Ganz Catheter Catheter, Intravenous Catheter Tip, for Microbiology Catheter tip  Sterile container  No  No  Indicate on Request Form and specimen container, type and site of catheter. Collected by referring c... (more)  
Sweat Test Sweat Test   N/A  Yes  No  An appointment must be made with the Royal Children's Hospital on 9345 5821. The sweat is collecte... (more)  
Synacthen Stimulation Test Short Synacthen Test Blood (x3)  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No  NOTE: MUST BE PERFORMED UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION due to risk of anaphylaxis, therefore the test is... (more)  
Synovial Fluid, cytology Cytology, Synovial Fluid Synovial Fluid  Urine/Specimen container 50ml  No  No  Sample may be shared with Microbiology, Biochemistry,Flow Cytometry. Please check other laboratory... (more)  
Synovial Fluid, Microscopy and culture Synovial Fluid, Microscopy and culture Synovial Fluid  Sterile container  No  No   
Syphilis Serology Syphilis Serology Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No   
Syphilis, Investigation of Lesions by Darkground Microscopy Syphilis Serology Blood  Serum Separator Tube (SST)  No  No