From April 2021 CCDHB began offering Faecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT) for asymptomatic participants aged between 60 and 74 years as part of the National Bowel Screening Programme. These samples are couriered directly from the patient to the National Bowel Screening laboratory in Auckland for testing. 

Wellington SCL provided DHB-funded faecal occult blood testing (FOBT) using the same FIT technology prior to the introduction of the NBSP.  This was to help with prioritising referrals for colonoscopy. From 1 July 2021 FOBT will no longer be available as a DHB-funded test. All FOBT requests received by Wellington SCL will be declined unless the test is self-funded by the patient. This is in line with many other laboratories across NZ. The change has been approved by the 3DHB Laboratory Alliance Group (which includes representation from primary and secondary care laboratory referrers).
 
Please note: red flags for significant bowel pathology include

These patients should be referred to either General Surgery or Gastroenterology using the “Gastrointestinal” eReferral option for further evaluation.  Further information is available at HealthPathways.

Dr Tim Blackmore
Clinical Microbiologist, Wellington SCL

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MYOGLOBIN TEST TO BE DISCONTINUED
 

Wellington SCL wishes to advise that Myoglobin (both urine and serum) will no longer be available from 1 July 2021.

Myoglobin has largely been replaced by Creatinine Kinase (CK) measurement for the assessment of muscle damage. Serum CK estimation is also considered the preferred test for the investigation of possible rhabdomyolysis. Urine myoglobin is no longer indicated to assess possible kidney damage.
 
Myoglobin has no role in the assessment of patients with chest pain.  High sensitivity Troponin is the earliest marker for the investigation of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), and myoglobin testing in this regard is not clinically indicated.
 
The laboratory has also noticed a decline in the request for urine and serum Myoglobin, and in keeping with current recommendations we will discontinue testing at the end of June 2021.

Dr Melissa Yssel
Dr Marie Van Drimmelen
Chemical Pathologists Wellington SCL 

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From 1^st July 2021 there will be a price increase for all commercial laboratory tests offered by the APHG  laboratories network, comprising Wellington SCL, Labtests, Taranaki Pathology Services, Southern Community Laboratories, Northland Pathology and MedLab South.

The annual price increase is to rationalise increasing costs of doing business including increasing labour and supply costs. 

Please note this price increase does not apply to any 3DHB funded tests.  
Click here to view the updated prices on our website