PATHOLOGY HANDBOOK - capitalpath.com.au

1 PATHOLOGY HANDBOOKiCapital PATHOLOGY ABN 49 452 500 422 2 Makin Place, Deakin, ACT, 2600, Australia All rights reserved. No part of this manual may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or any means without Capital PATHOLOGY s written HANDBOOK has been prepared by Capital PATHOLOGY and every care has been taken in its compilation. Capital PATHOLOGY shall not be liable for any error or omission contained herein or arising from usage of material contained in this HANDBOOK . This HANDBOOK remains the property of Capital 2012 Edited by Christina Vett-Joice Printed by Buckner Printing CompanyiiTable of ContentsAcknowledgements iiiForeword ivHow to use this HANDBOOK vGeneral information Pathologists vi overview xvi Services xvii Contact Us xviii Doctors Service Centre xx Collection Centres xxi

2 Specimen Collection xxiii Courier Services xxiv Requesting PATHOLOGY Tests xxv Laboratories xxvii Results xxviii Reports xxix Billing Policy xxxi Education xxxiv Publications and website xxxv Other Services xxxvi Corporate services xxxviiA Z Listings iiiAcknowledgementsThis is the fifth edition of the Capital PATHOLOGY HANDBOOK , and the production of each new edition is a huge task. Also, each edition builds on the contributions that others have made to earlier editions so that the current HANDBOOK is a testament to the hard work of many teams of people over many have been champions of the fifth edition HANDBOOK within Capital PATHOLOGY , just as there were champions of its predecessors.

3 Dr Paul Whiting, Director of Clinical PATHOLOGY has again been passionate about the urgency of keeping the HANDBOOK relevant and current for our referring doctors and both myself and Dr Jane Twin, Director of Cytology have also contributed extensively to our relevant Vett Joice (CV) has once again been the driving force behind the fifth edition. She has been cheerfully assisted by the scientific and administration staff of Capital PATHOLOGY , many of whom have helped produce parts of this HANDBOOK in their own precious non-work people throughout Sonic Healthcare have been incredibly generous in their contributions to both this and earlier editions.

4 They have shared their knowledge, experience and advice with us and we thank you. It is wonderful to have a large team of world experts at our disposal at Capital PATHOLOGY and we will continue to test the limits of your kindness and availability!I would also like to thank the companies who have sponsored the fifth edition. Without your generosity, we would not have been able to produce a reference work of such quality and scope, and we appreciate your faith in our HANDBOOK and your support to I would like to sincerely thank those who have fundamentally made this HANDBOOK possible through their ongoing support and loyalty to Capital PATHOLOGY the doctors, nurses and patients who daily trust us with the privilege of being part of their health care team.

5 I assure you that we take our responsibilities to you very seriously. In fact We Take it Personally .Dr Ian Clark , , , , , Executive Officer2012ivForewordWe are constantly reminded that we are in the midst of an explosion of knowledge and information. This is nowhere typified better than in the ever-changing field of PATHOLOGY . This is the fifth edition of the HANDBOOK provided by Capital PATHOLOGY to medical practitioners, nurses, practice managers, receptionists, hospital staff and others who use our practice. The HANDBOOK provides a concise guide to the range of services provided by Capital PATHOLOGY , as well as assisting to answer some of the clinical questions we are so often PATHOLOGY has a long history, over 40 years, of providing PATHOLOGY services to the ACT and surrounding districts.

6 We are very aware of the privilege and responsibility associated with being an integral part of the medical community in our region, and this can be summarised in our motto We take it personally .For us in the potentially rarefied atmosphere of an efficient modern PATHOLOGY laboratory, this means that we constantly remind ourselves that associated with every specimen, every report, every piece of anonymous data, every phone query, there is a person who rightfully expects us to treat them personally .This also means that our supporting doctors and their teams can rely on each of us at Capital PATHOLOGY , irrespective of our role, to behave as part of a medical practice where we are each known by you, and are personally committed to ensuring the best possible service for you and your hope that this HANDBOOK will help us improve our service to you.

7 I also hope it will assist you and your staff to achieve the ultimate aim of us all: to improve the health of our patients and our Ian Clark , , , , , Executive Officer2012 vHow to use this handbookAll listings are in alphabetical order, whether analyte, test name, disease, clinical topic, procedure, drug name, specimen type or RangesFor some common analytes the reference ranges are similar throughout Australia ( sodium, potassium). For hormones and other tests where methodology can vary from one laboratory to another, the reference ranges can differ quite markedly. Even in the same laboratory, ranges may change from time to time as new methods are introduced.

8 In this HANDBOOK you are provided with common reference ranges. For other tests, please consult the reference ranges provided with all reports. Please note reference ranges are correct at time of reference range can be defined as a range derived from measuring an analyte in a reference population using a reference method. The reference interval then is usually taken to include the mean +/ 2 SD 95th percentile. This implies that 5% of the normal population will fall outside these clinical practice, a patient s results can be examined in different ways, either by comparison to a reference interval, by comparison to their own known previous values, or by consideration of desirable goals, aiming for a cholesterol of X since this has been shown to have benefit in terms of mortality / morbidity from cardiovascular disease.

9 Some useful ranges are not reference ranges at all, but rather therapeutic ranges, warfarin control by INR. units are used on InterpretationComments in this HANDBOOK are intended as a guide only. Any additional queries may be directed to the appropriate clinical details help immeasurably with interpretation, routine, wt loss 1/12, pale and tired 3/12, on T4, on phenytoin, ? my opinion, pathologists are undoubtedly the central focus of a successful PATHOLOGY Capital PATHOLOGY , specialist pathologists are not only responsible for management decisions, but are intimately involved in all clinical and ethical matters. Our pathologists pride themselves on their close clinical relationship with our referring doctors, and they recognise the importance of providing a comprehensive consultative and educational service.

10 This is exemplified on a day-to-day basis by an expanding range of interpretive comments on reports. In order to optimise patient care, we understand the importance of discussion with clinicians through phone calls as well as providing advice and feedback at personal visits. Capital PATHOLOGY s specialist pathologists have a long history of commitment to continuing education for family doctors and specialists through educational seminars and regular more importantly, the continual guidance provided by our pathologists determines the quality and integrity of our whole service. Although our practice obviously must remain commercially viable, the medical influence provided by our pathologists ensures that purely commercial considerations never take precedence over ethical and professional Ian Clark , , , , , Executive OfficerviiDr Ian , (Hons), , , , Executive Officer Director of HistopathologyIan graduated with first class honours from Sydney University in 1984.