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 Grey Base Hospital, and more tests are available through our partnership with Canterbury Health Laboratories in Christchurch.
To learn more about Pathology, visit the Know Pathology website.
Many different kinds of highly-trained staff work in the laboratory.
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.
You usually don’t need an appointment for tests at Grey Base Hospital. You will need an appointment for a paternity test or for an allergy prick test.
You can make appointments by calling the Laboratory on 03 768 2797.
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.
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:
You can drop off specimens at these facilities for courier to the Grey Base Hospital Laboratory.
Most medical centres require you to drop off your samples in the morning so they can be couriered on the same day.
Testing is usually free for New Zealand residents when requested by a health professional.
There will be a cost for the following:
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.
Know Pathology is an information resource about pathology and its uses.
Page last updated: 14 November 2018
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