Laboratory
Department: Buller Health LaboratoryTe Nīkau, Grey Hospital & Health Centre LaboratoryDivision: West Coast DHB
Blood test services (Phlebotomy) have now relocated to the Community Services building
IMPORTANT
Latest relocation update for Greymouth Phlebotomy Services
Te Nīkau Hospital & Health Centre blood test services (phlebotomy) have now relocated to the Community Services building located at the south-western corner of the Te Nīkau campus.
Our blood test services team are now in their new location where they are co-located with our Greymouth COVID-19 vaccination and Sexual Health teams.
“This move was part of our COVID-19 response planning, which has included reviewing patient flow in and out of the Te Nīkau facility. As around 400 people access this service each week – an average of 80 people per day – it was decided to relocate the team instead of when we start to see COVID-19 cases on the Coast.”
Directions
If you are coming into the hospital and health centre campus off High Street turn left and follow the new signage around to the new location.
Alternatively, you can also access the campus via the Water Walk Road entrance opposite and just south of the St John building.
New location of Greymouth Phlebotomy Services
Open hours
The hours of operation will remain the same – 7:30am – 4:30pm weekdays; last patient seen at 4:20pm.
Parking
Parking will be available outside the building.
Open hours
Greymouth – Community Services building located at the south-western corner of the Te Nīkau campus:
Opening hours for blood collection services are 7:30am – 4:30pm, with last patient seen at 4:20pm.
Laboratory open hours are 8am – 5pm weekdays.
All other hours are on call via the operator.
Westport – Buller Health:
Appointments will be available between the following times:
Mon: 7.30am – 2.30pm
Tue: 7.30am – 2.30pm
Wed: 7.30am – 2.30pm
Thu: 9.30am – 2.30pm
Fri: 7.30am – 2.30pm
What happens at the lab?
Laboratory staff collect and test blood and other samples from patients when requested by a health care professional. A wide range of tests are available at Te Nīkau, Grey Hospital & Health Centre, and more tests are available through our partnership with Canterbury Health Laboratories in Christchurch.
To learn more about Pathology, visit the Know Pathology website.
Laboratory staff
Many different kinds of highly-trained staff work in the laboratory.
- Phlebotomists are the people you are most likely to meet – professionals trained to collect your blood
- Medical Laboratory Technicians and Scientists test samples in the laboratory
- Pathologists are doctors of diseases and conditions, who interpret results
- Medical Scientists give advice to your nurse, midwife, doctor or other health care professional
Contact our labs
Please refer to the side bar on this page for phone numbers and email address, or refer to contact details provided on our Contact us page.
All enquiries come to the main Lab reception number, from where messages will be forwarded to phlebotomy, if required
Tests
How do I get a test?
Test can only be ordered by a health professional (doctor, midwife, nurse practitioner, et cetera). They will give you a request form, which you must bring with you to the laboratory or sample drop-off.
Tests for new immigrants
Patients will need to be referred by a doctor (GP) at Coastal Health. After getting their blood tested at the Te Nīkau, Grey Hospital & Health Centre lab, the lab then reports back to the GP with the results. The cost at the time of publishing this information was $177.05 NZ for standard immigration blood tests (please verify with the GP or lab). If the doctor requests extra testing this cost could go up. Te Nīkau, Grey Hospital & Health Centre lab can be contacted during Open Hours (simply phone 03 769 7797 to find out what those additional costs are).
Appointments
You usually don’t need an appointment for tests at Te Nīkau, Grey Hospital & Health Centre. You will need an appointment for a paternity test or for an allergy prick test.
You can make appointments by calling the Laboratory on 03 769 7797.
Special requirements
For some blood tests (such as glucose and lipids tests), you will need to fast before giving blood. That means no food or drinks (except for water) from midnight until the blood test.
Patients requiring a glucose tolerance test are required to stay at the Laboratory for two hours during testing.
Location
The Laboratory is on the ground floor and can be found by following the signs from the main entrance.
Bleeding rooms are also available at West Coast DHB health centres in:
- Hokitika
- Haast
- Hari Hari
- Whataroa
- Franz Josef
- Fox Glacier
- Moana
- Reefton
- Karamea
- Ngakawau
- Westport (Buller Health)
You can drop off specimens at these facilities for courier to the Te Nīkau, Grey Hospital & Health Centre Laboratory.
Most medical centres require you to drop off your samples in the morning so they can be couriered on the same day.
Are tests free?
Testing is usually free for New Zealand residents when requested by a health professional.
There will be a cost for the following:
- People who are not New Zealand residents
- Paternity tests
- Life insurance medicals
- Tests for travel medical assessments
- Tests for new immigrants (see also: ‘Tests for new immigrants’ info just above on this page).
- Occupational health testing (your employer will sometimes pay for this)
When do I get my results?
Your health professional will let you know when they receive your test results from the Laboratory. You may wish to arrange an appointment with your health professional in advance to discuss your results.
Websites
Know Pathology
Know Pathology is an information resource about pathology and its uses.
Page last updated: 6 April 2022
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