Pathlab communications (1)

Over the past few weeks we have seen a notable increase in the number of patients being instructed by their health provider to contact Pathlab for their laboratory results, be it Covid or general lab tests. This has created a lot of extra unnecessary work for our Call Centre team who are already under pressure and are now dealing with between 600-800 calls per day. We ask that patients are not redirected to Pathlab for results.

All lab requests from health providers are reported back to the ordering provider when results are completed. We do recommend practices move to Medical Objects as their laboratory reporting platform, if not already having done so, as this is Pathlab’s preferred provider for the reporting of all laboratory results.

Emailing eOrders requests forms not required. ●

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If you have placed a laboratory order via eOrders (Pathlab Electronic Orders), please do not also email the request forms to Pathlab. This creates extra unnecessary workload for both yourself and for our team and is not required. The form will be available at any of our rooms in the Eastern and Western BOP, and also Rotorua and Taupo region should your patient present there.

The only exception to this is for the few patients that require an appointment – FNA’s/ Bone Marrow etc. These will still need to be emailed if the patient has not been given a form and instructed to contact the lab.

More recently we have fielded a number of queries around COVID testing in the community.

Hopefully the following provides some clarity: 1. COVID Symptomatic patients presenting at Pathlab for blood tests after being swabbed at their GP Practice. Some GPs continue to send their COVID symptomatic patients to Pathlab for blood tests. Please advise the patient they can only present at Pathlab after they have received a Negative COVID result unless: ● In Tauranga – Patients can make an appointment for URGENT tests only at our Cameron Rd portacom via the Call Centre 07 858 0799. ● In Whakatane – Patients can present for URGENT tests only between 3pm-4pm daily at Pathlab Phoenix. ● Waikato, Rotorua and Taupo - GP Practices are to collect blood samples or advise the patient they can present at a Pathlab collection room after having received a Negative COVID result.

2. International Travel (via Air or Sea)/ Pre-employment COVID testing ● Only COVID for travel / pre-employment tests can be collected at ALL Pathlab collection facilities. ● Covid testing at our main collection facilities (Cameron Rd, Tristram St, Haupapa St, Whakatane, Taupo) must be booked via the Pathlab Call Centre – 07 858 0795. Other rooms can accept walk-ins.

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Pathlab takes no responsibility if collection timeframes fall outside their travel timeframes - it is solely the responsibility of the patient to arrange the swab collection date/time appropriate for their travel.

3. Across Alert Level Boundary Travel testing (Surveillance Testing) Currently this is ONLY for those crossing the Auckland Alert Level Boundary (not in / out of Waikato to Bay of Plenty for example).

There are two types of Across Alert Level Boundary Travel tests. Essential Workers and Private Travel. Both groups require a booking for their swabbing. Please ensure to clarify what type of travel they mean, as there has been confusion between International Travel and Across Alert Level Boundaries Travel. ● Essential Workers – those who will be crossing boundaries regularly for essential work related purposes will predominantly be using the Saliva Testing process, and if not can be directed to https://covid19salivatesting.co.nz/ which will inform them of the process – however, the patient can choose to have either Saliva or Nasopharyngeal. ● Private Travel – those who will be crossing the alert level boundaries for one off travel (funerals, health purposes etc) must have a nasopharyngeal swab. Saliva testing is not available for Private Travel. ● Surveillance testing at Pathlabs main collection rooms require an appointment via the Call Centre - 07 858 0799.

4. COVID Results Whether it be saliva or nasopharyngeal swab, results are reported within 24 - 72 hours of the swab arriving at the laboratory. This may vary during an outbreak and surge in testing. ● ● ●

Samples are triaged in Pathlab.

Hospital samples, International Travel testing, along with all urgent requests, are prioritised and reported within the appropriate timeframes, as noted on the forms.

Please ensure both Collection Dates and Times, along with Travel Dates and Times (for International Travel), are recorded on the request forms.

Covid requests via eOrders ● ● ●

You will now note that we have a new Tab on the Pathlab eOrdering page called “Covid-19”.

This will now replace accessing Covid ordering from the Microbiology Tab or the MISC Tab. Please complete all picklists as required.

As of Monday November 1st, accessing Covid-19 ordering will only be accessible from the “Covid-19” Tab – see below.