Pathology

What Pathology Services does Liverpool Plaza Medical Centre Offer?

Pathology services are instrumental to your treatment. We work alongside Medlab Pathology to help your doctor make more informed decisions about your health. Medlab Pathology services include but are not limited to:

• Collecting and analysing blood, stool and tissue samples
• Monitoring your blood pressure
• Holter monitoring
• Conducting prenatal testing on pregnant patients
• Taking samples from paediatric patients to look for developmental abnormalities
  

Are there out of cost fees for Pathology? 

Most pathology tests are bulk-billed for patients with a Medicare card.

Do we require an appointment? 

Most of our tests are available on a walk-in basis. Some tests require you to fast. If you'd like to ask any questions, feel free to contact us on (02) 9131 6050

What is pathology?

When you’ve been referred to a blood test and directed to a pathology department, it’s natural to wonder “What is pathology?” In simple terms, pathology involves taking bodily fluids or tissues and testing them for diseases. It can also include using medical devices to measure a patient’s state of health over a period of time. At Liverpool Plaza Medical Centre, our pathology services are provided by Medlab Pathology. Medlab Pathology uses the latest techniques and tests to measure your health, which then allows your doctor to create an effective care plan.

What does a pathologist do?

After receiving the sample required, the pathologist will carry out industry-regulated tests to look for abnormalities. How fast they’re able to do this will depend on what your doctor is looking for. For example, clinical pathology tests focusing on blood cell counts, thyroid function, and inflammatory markers may take just a few hours. However, if you require a pathology blood tests to identify the type of bacteria that are causing an infection, we need a few days to produce accurate results.

General pathology requires us to use certain machines, stains, and other equipment to measure your health outcomes. Sometimes this will involve making recommendations regarding the type of antibiotics required. Once the results are ready, it is recommended that you meet with your doctor to discuss the next step in your care plan.

What tests are done in pathology?

It’s normal to wonder “what tests are done in pathology?” especially if you’ve never used pathology services before. Some examples are:

• Fast blood tests for full blood counts, thyroid function, inflammatory marker levels, and protein levels.
• Pregnancy-specific tests, such as HCG levels.
• Staining tests that identify which types of antibiotics a specific bacteria is sensitive to.
• Condition-specific tests, such as the blood tests and tissue analysis required for coeliac disease.
• Ambulatory monitoring that can detect conditions such as arrhythmias.
• Group and save and cross-matching prior to surgery to ensure patients receive appropriate blood transfusions when needed.
• Other bodily fluid tests, such as faecal analysis and urinalysis.
• Genetic testing that identifies genetic disorders, including chromosome abnormalities which are diagnosed using amniotic fluid samples.
• Cytology that analyses potential cancerous changes, including cervical smear analysis.
• Immunology testing to see if you’re immune to certain conditions.

Are pathology tests covered by Medicare?

Medlab Pathology offers bulk billing payments to those who have a valid Medicare card and/or valid OSHC/OVC that enables direct billing to Pathology Providers.

How long do the tests take?

The length of your test will vary according to what we’re looking for. For example, genetic testing can take a few weeks. Biopsies may also take up to three weeks. In contrast, we can sometimes return the results of certain blood tests to your medical team within 1-2 days. However, it’s important to note that this doesn’t mean they’ll be able to report on them within the same time frame. Once they receive the information, your doctor needs to interpret the results according to your clinical situation and form an appropriate treatment plan.

When it comes to pathology in Australia, we always take a patient-focused approach. To learn more about our pathology testing, please call to make an appointment with our General Practitioners.