Self requesting blood tests/pathology tests

Most labs do not offer testing based on “self referral” because tests are expensive, and results are often complex to interpret. However there are some limited exceptions:

Dorevitch– No self-referral for blood tests

Australian Clinical Labs– No self-referral for blood tests.

QML Laboratories: Self referral/self request available for Blood Group, Hepatitis serology, MMR (measles mumps rubella) serology, Varicella (Chicken Pox) serology, Quantiferon Gold, Mantoux test, drug screening, alcohol breath test, COVID-19 swab.

4Cyte Laboratories No self-referral for blood tests

Please note that labs may change their policies over time, and the above is a guide only. Check with your local lab for further details.

The post Can I order my own blood tests in Australia? appeared first on qoctor.

If you have not received an SMS or email notification about your test result within 1 week (4-5 business days) of having the test, please email Qoctor at info@qoctor.com.au OR use the live chat function on our home page- let us know the laboratory/pathology collection centre you attended, the date of the test, as well as your name and date of birth, and we can chase it up with the lab on your behalf, as soon as possible.

Please bear in mind, that many labs have limited staffing at weekends, so if you contact us at the weekend, we may not be able to access the result for you until they re-open on Monday.

The post How quickly do pathology test results come back? appeared first on qoctor.

In Australia, most pathology laboratories/collection centres will only conduct a pathology test if you have a referral from a registered doctor. While some labs can perform a very limited number of specific tests if a patient “self refers” (see below for details), in the vast majority of cases, a pathology referral/request from a doctor is required.

Will I need to pay the laboratory for a blood test?

The Australian healthcare system subsidises the cost of most common pathology tests for Australians who have a Medicare card. Therefore, your Medicare details should be included on the pathology request form. This is to encourage people to speak to their doctor about their health concerns, and to ensure that taxpayers’ money is being used wisely.

Are all pathology tests covered by Medicare?

It’s important to note that some tests are NOT covered by Medicare, or will only be covered a certain number of times per year- your doctor will usuallly flag this with you in advance, and the pathology collection centre will generally draw your attention to this too.

Will I need to pay for a blood test if I don’t have Medicare?

If you don’t have Medicare, you can still get tested using a pathology request form, but you will be invoiced by the pathology laboratory afterwards (be sure to enquire about the cost beforehand). In this case, you may be covered by health insurance and can claim it back- check your policy.

How to get a valid pathology referral

A pathology referral can be obtained by speaking to a registered Australian doctor- this can be a face to face consultation or a telehealth appointment via phone call or video call. Some online providers only assess people via an online questionnaire or SMS, without a phone/video call- this is not best practice and may lead to issues with your Medicare rebates down the track- that’s why it is important to stick with providers who conduct a proper telehealth consult (as Qoctor does).

Self requesting blood tests/pathology tests

Most labs do not offer testing based on “self referral” because tests are expensive, and results are often complex to interpret. However there are some limited exceptions:

Dorevitch– No self-referral for blood tests

Australian Clinical Labs– No self-referral for blood tests.

QML Laboratories: Self referral/self request available for Blood Group, Hepatitis serology, MMR (measles mumps rubella) serology, Varicella (Chicken Pox) serology, Quantiferon Gold, Mantoux test, drug screening, alcohol breath test, COVID-19 swab.

4Cyte Laboratories No self-referral for blood tests

Please note that labs may change their policies over time, and the above is a guide only. Check with your local lab for further details.

The post Why do I need a referral for a pathology test? appeared first on qoctor.

Approved Pathology Collection Centres (APCCs)

APCCs are facilities to where patients can take their pathology request form to have their sample/specimen collected for testing in a pathology laboratory. They are linked to accredited pathology laboratories and are subject to ongoing monitoring processes, ensuring the quality of pathology collection services. If you are unsure whether your Pathology Collection Centre is linked to an accredited laboratory, you can look for the NATA/RCPA logos or endorsement certificates, or ask the staff if the lab they work with has NATA/RCPA accreditation. Patients can also refer to the NATA website which lists all Medical Testing laboratories currently accredited in Australia (bearing in mind, the lab may not be in the same physical location as the collection centre).

The post Can I use any pathology collection service/ pathology provider for my test? appeared first on qoctor.

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