Taranaki Lab Manual - User contributions [en]

Tests:SARS-CoV-2

2025-12-23T19:40:13Z

Mfa0004: Added add-on stability information.

{{DISPLAYTITLE: SARS-CoV-2}}

[[Category:Tests]]

[[Category:Microbiology]]
[[Category:Hawera]]

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |
== Overview ==
|-
|Department
|Microbiology – Molecular
|-
|Test Code
|TCOV
|-
|Synonyms
|COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2

Novel Coronavirus

2019-nCov
|-
|Base Lab Availability
|Monday - Friday, Testing routinely available out of hours
|-
|Hawera Lab Availability
|Monday - Friday, 8am to 4 30pm
|-
|Turnaround Time
|2 – 24 hours from receipt

Results may be delayed out of routine business hours.

Urgent requests will be prioritised
|-
|Stability – Add test
|Add-ons can be made if an appropriate sample has already been received for other PCR testing within one week of specimen collection.
|-
! colspan="2" |
== Specimen Requirements ==
|-
|Specimen
|Swab
|-
|Preferred
|Nasopharyngeal swab in VTM (Viral transport medium)
|-
|Acceptable
|
|-
|Unacceptable
|
|-
|Specimen Transportation
|ASAP to Laboratory
|-
|Paediatric Requirements
|Paediatric nasopharyngeal swab in VTM (Viral transport medium)
|-
! colspan="2" |
== Aliquot Requirements ==
|-
|Sample
|
|-
|Preferred Volume
|
|-
|Minimum Volume
|
|-
|Aliquot Transportation
|If there is a delay in getting sample to the laboratory, please store sample chilled (2 - 8 degrees Celsius)
|-
! colspan="2" |
== Clinical Information ==
|-
|Reference Intervals
|Results will be reported as Novel Coronavirus RNA PCR DETECTED or NOT Detected.

Ct values are available on request.

Specimens that fail for technical reasons will be tested by another platform or a repeat sample requested, this will mean a delay in results
|-
|Test Method
|Real-time RT-PCR test on the GeneXpert analyser for the qualitative detection of nucleic acid from the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Note if a “QUAD” swab is requested then Influenza A + B, RSV, and SARS-CoV-2 are tested.
|-
|Advanced Notice
|Not required
|-
|Patient Preparation
|To minimise inhibition in the assay, please ensure the patients blow their nose prior to taking a nasopharyngeal swab.
|-
! colspan="2" |
== Comments ==
|-
| colspan="2" |Influenza A/B and RSV, Full Respiratory Multiplex and Bordetella pertussis PCR may be carried out on the same nasopharyngeal swab.

''Please note:'' Testing of the full respiratory multiplex assay does not have the same turnaround time as the Influenza A/B, RSV test as the sample is forwarded to a reference laboratory.
|}
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Tests:Influenza A B

2025-12-23T19:39:43Z

Mfa0004: Added add-on stability information.

{{DISPLAYTITLE: Influenza A, B and RSV}}

[[Category:Tests]]

[[Category:Microbiology]]
[[Category:Hawera]]

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |
== Overview ==
|-
|Department
|Microbiology – Molecular
|-
|Test Code
|LABR
|-
|Synonyms
|Influenza (A or B)

Flu

RSV

Respiratory Syncytial Virus
|-
|Base Lab Availability
|Monday - Sunday, testing routinely available out of hours
|-
|Hawera Lab Availability
|Monday - Friday, 8am to 4 30pm
|-
|Turnaround Time
|2 – 24 hours from receipt

Results may be delayed out of routine business hours.

Urgent requests will be prioritised
|-
|Stability – Add test
|Add-ons can be made if an appropriate sample has already been received for other PCR testing within one week of specimen collection.
|-
! colspan="2" |
== Specimen Requirements ==
|-
|Specimen
|Swab
|-
|Preferred
|Nasopharyngeal swab in VTM (Viral transport media)
Samples should be taken as early as possible within the first 3-5 days after onset of symptoms.
|-
|Acceptable
|
|-
|Unacceptable
|Leaking samples
Unlabelled and mislabelled samples
|-
|Specimen Transportation
|ASAP to Laboratory
|-
|Paediatric Requirements
|Paediatric nasopharyngeal swab in VTM (Viral transport media)
|-
! colspan="2" |
== Aliquot Requirements ==
|-
|Sample
|
|-
|Preferred Volume
|
|-
|Minimum Volume
|
|-
|Aliquot Transportation
|If there is a delay in getting sample to the laboratory, please store sample chilled (2 - 8 degrees Celsius)
|-
! colspan="2" |
== Clinical Information ==
|-
|Reference Intervals
|Results reported as DETECTED or NOT Detected for Influenza A, Influenza B and RSV.

Specimens that fail for technical reasons will be tested by another method and/or reflex tested for the full respiratory multiplex panel, meaning results will be delayed.

Single or multiple viruses may be detected.
|-
|Test Method
|Real-time RT-PCR test on the GeneXpert analyser for the detection of Influenza A (Flu A), Influenza B (Flu B), and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

Note if a “QUAD” swab is requested then Influenza A + B, RSV, and SARS-CoV-2 are tested.
|-
|Advanced Notice
|
|-
|Patient Preparation
|To minimise inhibition in the assay, please ensure the patients blow their nose prior to taking a nasopharyngeal swab
|-
! colspan="2" |
== Comments ==
|-
| colspan="2" |For mainstream routine respiratory testing during Influenza/RSV season.

Rapid screening using molecular PCR to identify key respiratory viruses during outbreaks.

In cases that clinically justify a wider selection of respiratory pathogens, reflex testing can be performed at a reference laboratory using our Respiratory multiplex assay by contacting the laboratory directly on extn 7878 or by stating clearly on original request: "FULL RESPIRATORY MULTIPLEX" with clear clinical details supporting this request.

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), Full Respiratory Multiplex and Bordetella pertussis PCR may be carried out on the same nasopharyngeal swab.

''Please note'': Testing of the full respiratory multiplex assay does not have the same turnaround time as Influenza A/B, RSV testing as the sample is forwarded to a reference laboratory.
|}
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Tests:Bordetella Pertussis PCR

2025-12-23T19:35:43Z

Mfa0004: Added add-on stability information.

{{DISPLAYTITLE: Bordetella Pertussis PCR}}

[[Category:Tests]]

[[Category:Microbiology]]

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |
== Overview ==
|-
|Department
|Microbiology - Molecular
|-
|Test Code
|BPCR
|-
|Synonyms
|Bordetella pertussis PCR
Whooping cough PCR
|-
|Availability
|Monday - Friday
8 am - 4 pm
|-
|Turnaround Time
|72 hours
|-
|Stability - Add test
|Add-ons can be made if an appropriate sample has already been received for other PCR testing within one week of specimen collection.
|-
! colspan="2" |
== Specimen Requirements ==
|-
|Specimen Type
|
|-
|Specimen Transportation
|ASAP to Laboratory
If there is a delay in getting sample to the laboratory, please store sample chilled (2 - 8 degrees Celsius)
|-
|Preferred
|Nasopharyngeal, Pernasal swab in Universal / Virus transport medium (UTM/VTM)
|-
|Acceptable
|
|-
|Unacceptable
|Leaking samples
Unlabelled samples
|-
|Paediatric Requirements
|Nasopharyngeal, Pernasal swab in UTM/VTM
|-
! colspan="2" |
== Aliquot Requirements ==
|-
|Sample Type
|
|-
|Preferred Volume
|
|-
|Minimum Volume
|
|-
|Aliquot Transportation
|
|-
! colspan="2" |
== Clinical Information ==
|-
|Diagnostic use/ Indications
|Pertussis, also known as whopping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by a Gram-negative coccobacillus ''Bordetella pertussis''.
Pertussis is a Section B Notifiable Infectious Diseases Under the Health Act 1956.

Nucleic acid detection after PCR amplification is more sensitive than culture.

During the first 3 weeks of cough PCR sensitivity for detection of ''B. pertussis'' is high but drops substantially thereafter.

For optimal assay sensitivity specimens should be taken from the posterior nasopharynx.

Other species of the genus B. parapertussis and B. holmesii are known to exhibit clinical manifestations of respiratory infection similar to a pertussis-like disease,

however these are not notifiable.
|-
|Reference Intervals
|Results reported as DETECTED or NOT Detected for

* Bordetella pertussis
* Bordetella parapertussis
* Bordetella holmesii
|-
|Test Method
|Real-time PCR for the qualitative detection and differentiation of DNA from Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis and/or Bordetella holmesii.
|-
|Advanced Notice
|Not required
|-
|Patient Preparation
|Not required
|-
! colspan="2" |
== Comments ==
|-
| colspan="2" |Influenza A/B and RSV, SARS-CoV-2 and Full Respiratory Multiplex may be carried out on the same nasopharyngeal swab.

Please note: Testing of the full respiratory multiplex assay does not carry the same turnaround times of the Influenza A/B, RSV and SARS-CoV-2 test(s) as the sample is forwarded to a reference laboratory.
|}
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Tests:Beta HCG, Blood (POCT)

2025-12-04T03:18:13Z

Mfa0004: Added add-on stability information.

{{DISPLAYTITLE: Beta HCG, Blood i-stat (POCT)}}
[[Category:Tests]]
[[Category:POCT]]
[[Category:Hawera]]
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |
== '''Overview''' ==
|-
|'''Department'''
|Point of Care Testing (POCT)
|-
|'''Test Code'''
|N/A
|-
|'''Synonyms'''
|Pregnancy related HCG
HCG - pregnancy test

BHCG - pregnancy test

Pregnancy test

Human chorionic gonadotrophin - pregnancy related
|-
|'''Availability'''
|Monday - Sunday at Hawera Hospital, available out of hours for emergencies
|-
|'''Turnaround Time'''
|10 minutes once cartridge is loaded into the i-Stat
|-
|'''Stability – Add test'''
|30 minutes
|-
! colspan="2" |
== '''Specimen Requirements''' ==
|-
|'''Specimen'''
|Venous sample collected into Heparinized
|-
|'''Preferred'''
|Heparinized whole blood or plasma samples collected in plastic syringes or evacuated tubes containing lithium or sodium heparin filled to capacity.
|-
|'''Acceptable'''
|Heparinized whole blood or plasma samples collected in plastic syringes or evacuated tubes containing lithium or sodium heparin filled to capacity.
|-
|'''Unacceptable'''
|Grossly haemolysed samples are unacceptable
|-
|'''Minimum Volume'''
|17 IU/L whole blood
|-
|'''Specimen Collection and Transportation'''
|
|-
! colspan="2" |
== '''Test Information''' ==
|-
|'''Test Method'''
|i-Stat - Total β-hCG Cartridge
|-
|'''Unit of Measurement'''
| IU/L
|-
|'''Reference Intervals'''
|Reportable range 5.0 – 2000.0 IU/L
< 5.0 IU/L - Negative

> 5.0 - 25.0 IU/L - Equivocal / Indeterminate

>25.0 IU/L - Positive
|-
|'''Uncertainty of measurement'''
|N/A
|-
|'''Additional Information'''
|Provides a quantitative and qualitative determination of ''β-hCG'' to aid in the early detection of pregnancy
|-
! colspan="2" |
== '''Comments''' ==
|-
| colspan="2" |Quick user guides for testing should be available with the meter.
All procedures, worksheets and competency checklist for sign-off are available on the intranet to all Health NZ Staff.

This test is covered under the current IANZ Laboratory accreditation.
|}
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Tests:Lactate Dehydrogenase, Serum

2025-10-22T21:17:08Z

Mfa0004: Removed space after LDH in synonyms

{{DISPLAYTITLE: Lactate Dehydrogenase, Serum}}
[[Category:Tests]]
[[Category:Biochemistry]]
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |
== Overview ==
|-
|Department
|Biochemistry
|-
|Test Code
|PLD
|-
|Synonyms
|LD

LDH
|-
|Availability
|Monday - Sunday, testing routinely available out of hours
|-
|Turnaround Time
|1 – 3 hours
|-
|Stability – Add test
|4 hours
|-
! colspan="2" |
== Specimen Requirements ==
|-
|Specimen
|Serum
Plasma
|-
|Preferred
|6 mL Plain Red-Top
|-
|Acceptable
|4 mL Li-Heparin Green-Top 
|-
|Unacceptable
|Haemolysed samples
|-
|Specimen Transportation
|
|-
|Paediatric Requirements
|600 µL Li-Hep Microtainer 
|-
! colspan="2" |
== Aliquot Requirements ==
|-
|Sample
|Serum
Plasma
|-
|Preferred Volume
|100 µL
|-
|Minimum Volume
|
|-
|Aliquot Transportation
|
|-
! colspan="2" |
== Clinical Information ==
|-
|Reference Intervals
|
{| class="wikitable"
|Age range
|Reference Interval
|-
|0 -14 days
|310 – 1220 U/L
|-
|> 14 day – 1 year
|190 – 450 U/L
|-
|> 1 year – 10 years
|190 – 320 U/L
|-
|> 10 years – 15 years
|160 – 280 U/L
|-
|> 15 years – 18 years
|130 – 250 U/L
|-
|> 18 years
|110 – 220 U/L
|}
|-
|Test Method
|NADH consumption monitored at 340nm. Abbott Ci8200 analyser
|-
|Advanced Notice
|Not required
|-
|Patient Preparation
|
|-
! colspan="2" |
== Comments ==
|-
| colspan="2" |
|}
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