The organisation is launching a nationwide healthcare provider campaign about supporting patient choice in cervical screening. The campaign intends to educate providers about the reliability of HPV self-collection and encourage them to offer self-collection as a choice to all eligible cervical screening patients. This provider campaign begins ahead of a nationwide patient-facing campaign set to debut in September, also funded by the Australian Government, promoting the HPV self-collection option in cervical screening.

Throughout the provider campaign, GPs are being encouraged to contact their pathology providers to:

• confirm that they can process self-collected vaginal samples, or
• confirm that they are able to refer self-collected vaginal samples to an accredited laboratory, if necessary, and
• order the correct collection device and other consumables for offering self-collection, and
• confirm any collection, handling and transport requirements.

The most commonly used device for self-collection in the National Cervical screening Program is a Copan FLOQswab (red top) flocked swab 552C or 552C.80.

Self-collected samples are taken from the vagina, whereas samples from clinician-conducted speculum exams are taken from the cervix. All routine (asymptomatic) cervical screening participants are eligible for self-collection, including patients who are pregnant¹ and those with immune deficiency. If HPV is found, follow-up is required.

Self-collection is just as sensitive for the detection of HPV and CIN2+/adenocarcinoma in situ as a clinician-collected sample² and can help overcome screening barriers in under-screened groups (e.g., privacy/modesty concerns, fears of discomfort and pain, previous trauma, etc.). Currently, over 70% of cervical cancer cases occur in people who have never screened or are overdue. Therefore, self-collection can address disparities by helping engage those who would otherwise not participate in screening—but only if they are provided the choice to do so.

If you are a healthcare provider and want to get up to speed on HPV self-collection and cervical screening, you can visit campaign resource hub to find webinars, podcasts, provider resources, and other CPD opportunities.

You don’t have to be a cervical screening provider to support the campaign – to spread the word about the importance of supporting the choice, you can check out the stakeholder toolkit

References:

1. Cancer Council Australia. 14. Screening in pregnancy [Internet]. 2022. Available from: https://www.cancer.org.au/clinical-guidelines/cervical-cancer/cervical-cancer-screening/screening-in-pregnancy
2. Arbyn M, Smith S, Temin S, Sultana F, Castle P. Detecting cervical precancer and reaching underscreened women by using HPV testing on self samples: updated meta-analyses. Bmj. 2018 Dec 5;363.

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According to Diabetes Australia, 10,249 Australians living with diabetes are now undergoing kidney replacement therapy, including dialysis, each year.

More than 1.5 million Australians live with diabetes, which can lead to serious complications including kidney disease.

With diabetes patients on dialysis accounting for approximately 5% of all hospitalisations, this has a significant impact on hospital capacity countrywide.

Earlier detection of kidney disease could save the Australian economy an estimated $500M per annum.²

Pathology Awareness Australia (PAA) ambassador Professor Graham Jones, a chemical pathologist who specialises in pathology testing for kidney disease, is encouraging people living with diabetes to get regular kidney checks to prevent the onset of kidney disease. Prof Jones said:

“Laboratory tests for the detection of kidney disease are crucial as it does not show clinical symptoms in its initial stages. For people living with diabetes, regular blood and urine tests play a vital role in identifying and monitoring from early onset.

“Staying proactive by scheduling GP check-ups is important to ensure timely diagnosis of kidney disease. If caught early, effective measures can be taken to prevent or slow down further kidney damage. Neglecting the condition can lead to kidney failure, dialysis, and in some cases, a kidney transplant may be required.”

Simple blood and urine checks, along with blood pressure checks, can effectively monitor kidney function and allow for early treatment, reducing the chance that people living with diabetes will require dialysis or kidney transplant.

While more than 300 Australians with diabetes currently receive a kidney transplant every year, a huge 2,024 people living with diabetes in Australia die from kidney disease each year, a concerning number for a mostly preventable condition.

PAA, Diabetes Australia and Kidney Health Australia say it is important for people with diabetes to work with their diabetes care teams and schedule annual kidney health checks.

Justine Cain, Group CEO of Diabetes Australia, said:

“More than 10,000 Australians living with diabetes are currently undergoing kidney replacement therapy. Most kidney failure can be prevented with early intervention; however, just under a quarter (23%) of people are getting their kidneys checked within recommended timeframes.”

Kidney disease occurs when the filters inside the kidneys become damaged and can no longer filter the blood properly. This can cause waste products to build up in the body and may progress to kidney failure, which in turn requires dialysis or a kidney transplant for survival.

In its earlier stages, kidney disease can be managed by various lifestyle changes, along with medication which can slow progression. Chris Forbes, CEO of Kidney Health Australia, said:

“We are championing early detection and prevention of progression of kidney disease for all Australians, with a special focus on those at greatest risk – those living with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure.

“Kidney Health Australia is leading the fight to identify the 1.8 million Australians unaware they have kidney disease and help them, and their families manage the condition more effectively from start to end. We’ve developed a holistic approach that goes beyond merely screening individuals. Early diagnosis, better treatment and support post-diagnosis go hand in hand for achieving best outcomes.

Our recent Deloitte Economics Access report exposes kidney disease as a national emergency, costing the Australian economy $9.9 billion each year, including $2.3 billion in direct costs to the health system. Now is the time to invest in kidney health, for everyday Aussies, the economy, the healthcare system, and the environment.”

Diabetes was an underlying or associated cause of death in more than 2,000 people living with chronic kidney disease in Australia in 2020.³

In the coming years, this is expected to increase due to the rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes and the strong association between it and diabetic kidney disease.⁴

According to PAA pathologist Prof Jones, regular laboratory testing for kidney damage is a key factor to improve the health of people living with diabetes.

References:

1. https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023-Diabetes-Related-Kidney-Disease-Report-1.4-DIGITAL.pdf
2. https://kidney.org.au/uploads/resources/Changing-the-CKD-landscape-Economic-benefits-of-early-detection-and-treatment.pdf
3. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2023) Chronic kidney disease: Australian facts, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 11 June 2023.
4. Reutens AT. Epidemiology of diabetic kidney disease. Med Clin North Am. 2013;97(1):1-18

Image credit: Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash

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Cervical screening participation among those with a cervix

The National Cervical Screening Program monitoring report 2021 from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows that over the 3-year period 2018-2020 only 56% of eligible people took part in cervical screening tests.¹

The highest participation rate was for those aged 45-49 at 61%, but for those aged 65-69 participation was 55%, and only 27% of those aged 70-74 took part in cervical screening.

While it is unclear how much of an impact the pandemic has had on cervical screening uptake, routine healthcare participation was significantly affected, with pathology testing rates dropping by around 40 per cent² in the first months of COVID-19 restrictions.

The National Cervical Screening Program changed from the ‘pap test’ screening model, with those aged 20-69 being tested every 2 years, to the renewed program where people with a cervix are advised to test every 5 years from age 25 to 74. The renewed cervical screening test looks for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) known to cause the majority of cervical cancers.

As those aged 70-74 were not included in the previous screening model, awareness of the need to test and the availability of testing may be lower in this age group. Discomfort with the method of sample collection may also play a role in low participation rates, but changes have been made to make sample collection easier for patients.

Self-collect as a cervical screening option

In July 2022, self-collection of samples for cervical screening tests became available to all people with a cervix aged 25-74. This means patients will no longer need their doctor or nurse to insert a speculum to collect the cervical sample.

On behalf of Pathology Awareness Australia, Adjunct Professor Annabelle Farnsworth said: “The main thing to remember is that we still see cervical cancers occurring in those aged 45 and up who have no history of cancer screening. This group is also unvaccinated due to their age, and it breaks your heart when you know there is a screening program to prevent these cancers, but they haven’t accessed it for whatever reason.”

This week Adj. Prof Farnsworth encouraged GPs to offer self-collect to their patients and open the conversation with older women particularly.

Anyone who is unsure if they are due for a cervical screening test can ask their healthcare provider to check the National Cancer Screening Register to find out their status.

Adj. Prof Farnsworth added; “We also know that there are other groups who may have lower screening awareness such as people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, particularly those who came to Australia from countries without cancer screening programs. We also want to encourage awareness in the LGBTQI+ community, anyone who has a cervix should be screened. The beauty of self-collection is that anyone who was hesitant because they didn’t want the speculum examination can now take part in screening.”

Adj. Prof Farnsworth noted that the availability of self-collection was a good starting point for healthcare professionals to raise the topic of testing with under-screened people.

HPV & vaccination rates

Before the pandemic, Australia was leading in cervical cancer elimination due to prevention measures. A 2018 study in The Lancet noted that with a combination of screening and vaccination, Australia could be one of the first countries in the world to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem and could do so by 2035.³

However, most women in their 50s, 60s and 70s would not have been vaccinated against HPV, as the National HPV Vaccination Program in schools only began in 2007. Liz Ham, National Health Promotion Manager at Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation said:

“Although we do have great vaccine coverage in Australia due to the vaccination program in schools, there is a cohort of middle-aged and older Australians who missed out on vaccination and can therefore be vulnerable to HPV infection. Migration and travel also mean that some people in Australia are not vaccinated because of where they were born. The vaccine also doesn’t cover every strain of HPV so cervical screening continues to be an important part of cervical cancer prevention.”

Eliminating cervical cancer relies on participation in the HPV vaccination and screening programs in order to effectively diagnose and prevent cancers.

Jean Hailes for Women’s Health CEO Janet Michelmore AO said: “We are keen to remind women about health checks they may have missed due to lockdowns and the pandemic creating disruption in people’s lives. It may seem easy to put off check-ups when so much else is going on, especially if you feel well, but cancer doesn’t discriminate. Early diagnosis is beneficial for almost any health condition so please don’t put off vital screening tests.”

Delayed diagnosis of cervical cancer could lead to the need for more invasive treatment. In 2019, 179 women aged 25–74 died from cervical cancer.¹

Read more about how low participation in the national cervical screening program puts Australians at risk of avoidable cancers.

References:

1. National Cervical Screening Program monitoring report 2021, downloadable here: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer-screening/national-cervical-screening-program-monitoring-rep/formats
2. https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/drastic-drops-in-cancer-and-heart-attack-patients
3. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667%2818%2930183-X/fulltext

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In most cases, Rapid Antigen Tests are being completed in home settings meaning responsibility is placed on the patient to ensure their positive infection is recorded and reflected in Australia’s healthcare data.

This is the first time that the public have been given this duty.

Before the pandemic, recording of specific communicable diseases was managed by healthcare professionals and pathology laboratories through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS).

The system captures a long list of notifiable diseases including laboratory confirmed influenza, syphilis, hepatitis and measles, plus diseases rarely seen in Australia such as leprosy.

For these diseases health professional consultation and pathology test results confirm the diagnosis, which is then reported to the NNDSS, ensuring there is an accurate record and disease outbreaks can be tracked.

Pathologists are concerned that without a full picture of all COVID-19 infections in the community, recording both laboratory and RAT results, public health data will become inaccurate.

Pathology Awareness Australia ambassador Dr Caitlin Keighley is a microbiologist and infectious diseases physician. She is urging the public to report their positive COVID-19 tests, she said:

“Without accurate public health data on COVID-19 infections, we have no way of knowing what the true number of positive infections in the community. Reporting every positive Rapid Antigen Test is the only way we can count positives. This data is vital to planning public health responses and assessing the impact of treatments and vaccines for COVID-19.”

When a positive RAT is reported via phone or online to state health departments, every patient receives a survey to fill out, clarifying their ability to safely manage COVID-19 symptoms while isolating at home.
Patients filling out this survey provide the health department with information on the number of COVID-19 patients that can manage their symptoms effectively, as well as those who require assistance, and the number of people who are at high risk of more severe disease.

This is also important for patients to ensure they are provided information about accessing treatment for COVID-19, particularly those who are higher risk such as the immunocompromised and older Australians.

While Rapid Antigen Tests have assisted COVID-19 testing in terms of accessibility and convenience, there is some concern among pathologists around the accuracy of the test and the reporting of test results. PCR testing is still the most accurate test, therefore if there is uncertainty around RAT results, pathologists recommend getting a PCR test.

Tests performed in a home setting are more open to user error and the obligation to record positive results rests with patients, who may not be aware of this duty, or of reporting mechanisms.

Dr Keighley said, “I urge Australians to report all positive Rapid Antigen Tests to their state health department. When you are unwell, reporting your positive test may not seem like a priority, but it is so important to take the time to do so. It informs us of the public’s resistance to the virus and allows us to take steps to reduce its effect on patients.”

Accurate infectious disease data is critical for microbiologists and infectious disease experts, like Dr Keighley, in the long-term management of viral community outbreaks and new COVID-19 variants.

COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests performed in a pathology laboratory are still widely available and Australians can find local testing sites through their state health department or contact their healthcare provider about testing. All PCR results are then sent to state health departments by pathology laboratories.

In Australia, all positive COVID-19 test results are required to be reported.

Australia currently has the highest per capita rate of COVID infections of any comparable country in the world. High rates of infection allow high rates of mutation and the possibility of new variants emerging. Continued testing and accurate reporting will minimise transmission and in turn, COVID infections.

For those with concerns over language barriers, online forms to report a positive COVID-19 test result is compatible with most translation reader technology.

Read media coverage on this topic here:

SBS News

The New Daily

7News

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Digital pathology is a subfield of pathology where pathologists are able to analyse and diagnose disease through the use of information generated from digitised specimen slides.

History of telepathology

The word was first coined by academic pathologist Dr Ronald S. Weinstein M.D., in 1986 in reference to remote pathology diagnostics services in the form of a dynamic-robot telepathology system. One of the first clinical telepathology services was established in 1989 in Norway by Nordrum and Eide.

Applications of telepathology

Telepathology can be used in a range of settings including consultation, diagnosis, documentation and medical education. It enables rapid access to experts, image sharing and second opinions. Telepathology allows for off-site pathologists to provide their services where it would otherwise be difficult, including immediate consultations with subspecialty pathologists such as renal pathologists (specialising in kidney health), neuropathologists (specialising in the brain and nervous system) and dermatopathologists (specialising in skin conditions).

How telepathology images are transferred?

There are currently three main ways to transfer digital pathology images in telepathology. These consist of the transfer of small static images, real-time imaging, or the transfer of whole slide imaging (WSI). WSI refers to the scanning of conventional glass slides in order to produce digital slides.

Digital pathology technology can also provide anatomical pathologists the opportunity to immediately access frozen sections for diagnosis where they are not able to be present with the physical samples.

Frozen sections are used primarily during surgery where a surgeon removes tissue from the patient, which is then rapidly frozen, sliced very finely and placed on slides for examination under a microscope by an anatomical pathologist. This takes place while the patient is still in the operating theatre. This allows the pathologist to provide vital information to the surgeon, for example whether all of a cancerous tumour has been removed or if the surgeon needs to cut away further malignant tissue.

How telepathology improves patient care?

Telepathology as a remote pathology system, has the power to ensure that patients always have access to pathology experts and therefore rapid and accurate diagnoses. The technology saves lives by providing healthcare practitioners with information that can be used to make life-saving decisions in real-time. The shortening of the timeline for receiving results means that diagnoses can be made earlier and disease states can be prevented from progressing further.

Telepathology also ensures that excellent care is being provided for patients living in remote areas with otherwise poor access to pathologists. With the ability to provide medical advice and consultations from afar, telepathology is changing the possibilities of life-saving medical efforts globally. Thousands of patients across the world from Asia, Europe and North America have benefited from telepathology services.

The post What is telepathology? first appeared on Know Pathology Know Healthcare.

Urgent tests may in some cases take only a few minutes to process, with results available within 24 hours. Some pathology tests on the other hand can take days or weeks, such as specialised tests, culturing bacteria or samples being sent overseas.

In most cases you will need to discuss test results with the healthcare professional who ordered your tests, so you may need to wait a little after the pathology lab has processed your tests in order to receive results during a medical consultation.

The process for receiving your test results and how long it takes may vary depending on the type of test you are having, your pathology provider and the protocols of the healthcare service referring you for the test. You can ask your healthcare professional about their procedures and can ask when tests are ordered for you how long the results are likely to take.

Point Of Care testing

Point of care testing is when the pathology tests are performed where healthcare is near or at the site of patient care. This provides results immediately which can be used in determining patient care for those who are critically ill in intensive care and emergency units or in rural and remote communities with less access to a pathology laboratory.

Getting a copy of your pathology results

You are legally entitled to a copy of your pathology results if you request it. However, your healthcare practitioner will be experienced in understanding and interpreting the results, therefore it’s important for them to provide insight into what they mean for your wellbeing. To get a copy of your results, simply request them from your healthcare practitioner when you discuss the results with them.

You may also be able to obtain a copy of your test results by contacting the relevant pathology laboratory directly if needed. Some laboratories may approach releasing results to patients differently, including notifying your healthcare practitioner of this request. This is because pathology results can sometimes be confusing, difficult to interpret or potentially even distressing depending on the context.

If your results are late

If your results are late, do not fret. The time it takes for pathology samples to be processed can vary. Non-urgent samples may run in later batches, and further investigations or second opinions may cause the results to be delayed further. A complex cancer investigation, for example, may take weeks to process. Other times, samples may be tested multiple times or in specialist labs.

If you have not received your results, you may want to contact your healthcare practitioner to understand when you should expect them and ask any further questions you may have.

If you want your specimen back

Once a pathology laboratory processes or analyses a sample, it becomes their property. If you would like the specimen returned, however, you are able to request the lab to return it.

To do this, speak to your healthcare professional or relevant laboratory. Pathology laboratories will generally retain specimens for a period time ranging from several days to decades, which is specified by law. After this period, they will destroy the sample for privacy and hygiene reasons unless you request for the sample to be returned. The laboratory may charge a fee for the sample’s retrieval and processing procedures.

The post How long will it take to get my pathology test results? first appeared on Know Pathology Know Healthcare.

• Blood banking and transfusions
• Chemical pathology
• Clinical informatics
• Cytopathology
• Dermatopathology
• Forensic pathology
• Haematology
• Molecular genetic pathology
• Neuropathology
• Paediatric pathology

Pathologists can be found in many health settings, including public and private hospitals and clinics, independent laboratories, and other medical and research facilities. The significant role that pathologists play in our healthcare system means that their work helps us every day – when you’re getting a skin biopsy checked, having a throat swab when you’re sick, or taking part in a national screening program for disease such as for cervical cancer or bowel cancer.

How pathology saves lives

Pathology plays a critical role in informing medical decisions and treatment plans every day. Timely results can save countless lives through the early detection of diseases and medical conditions, especially cancer. Cancer diagnoses are confirmed through pathology investigations, meaning that pathology is a vital tool for healthcare practitioners to provide appropriate care to their patients. In disease progression, pathology is also used to help monitor disease states and determine how to best manage various health conditions for a better quality of life.

Pathology’s contribution to the fight against cancer

All cases of cancer are diagnosed via pathology testing, including the diagnosis of cervical cancer, blood cancer and bowel cancer.

Australia has one of the best cervical cancer screening programs in the world, and consequently the lowest rate of cervical cancer globally. Cervical cancer symptoms often appear at the later stages of disease progression, which is why screening is so important. Estimates suggest that pathology screening methods for cervical cancer (combined with the HPV vaccination program) could reduce cervical cancer rates in Australia by as much as 20%.

Prostate cancer is also one of the most diagnosed cancers in Australian men, with pathology testing playing a vital role in the early detection of this disease via (prostate specific antigen) PSA testing.

Similarly, the National Bowel Cancer Screening program is essential in the early diagnosis of bowel cancer. The program uses a self-collected faecal sample that is sent to a laboratory to detect blood in faeces, which can be an early sign of bowel cancer, or another bowel issue. Anyone testing positive will be referred for further investigations. To diagnose bowel cancer a biopsy can be removed during an exploratory colonoscopy and be examined by a pathologist under a microscope, who determines whether cancerous cells are present in the patient’s sample.

Recognition of pathology

Pathology is also directly linked to chronic disease management, with the results of pathology tests used to diagnose and treat conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, heart attacks and cirrhosis of the liver. For example, in Australia, 30% of adults have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and it is set to become one of our most prevalent chronic diseases in the near future. One aspect of pathology here is that a new blood test may provide a safer, relatively pain-free alternative to liver biopsy for some people living with chronic liver disease.

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Access to pathology tests is vital for individual patient care and optimising health outcomes. It also allows for cost-effective decisions to be made in disease prevention and in combating diseases before they become chronic or life-long. It is a highly utilised service, with around  half the Australian population undergoing at least one pathology test every year.

Australia’s pathology workforce consists of around 35,000people who collect, process and report on a huge 500 million pathology tests each year.

Pathology is not only valuable in investigating diseases, but also in screening for such diseases regularly. National screening programmes such as the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP), or the National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) have successfully reduced the rates of severe bowel cancer and cervical cancer in the Australian population. For example, regular Cervical Screening Tests (CSTs) in Australia have massively reduced the incidence of cervical cancer by at least 50% in women over the age of 25.

Investing in pathology gives significant returns to the population. Quick turnaround times for pathology investigations means pathology teams can utilise test results to faster make decisions about the next steps of a treatment pathway, increasing healthcare sector productivity and minimising the impact of an illness on a patient’s life. Pathology services in Australia are amongst the highest quality and the most accessible in the world for patients.

The value of pathology testing throughout the COVID-19 pandemic

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the value of pathology has never been more abundantly clear to both the general public and healthcare workers. PCR testing (polymerase chain reaction) allows pathology teams to test for the COVID-19 virus via a simple swab, and genomic testing is used to identify new strains of the virus as they develop and to track which variants are spreading in the community.

As a result of the pandemic, there has been investment in pathology testing technology and infrastructure. This can also be used to test for a number of other diseases, holding huge value looking toward the future of pathology testing.

Clinical value of pathology tests

Pathology tests hold significant value to the Australian healthcare sector and to healthcare practitioners in disease diagnosis and monitoring. Pathology tests are associated with more than 70% of clinical diagnosis, including all cancer diagnoses. Further to that, 20% of pathology tests that are requested serve the purpose of monitoring and managing disease, allowing healthcare practitioners to make treatment decisions based on pathology test results. These pathology tests can also help determine whether treatments such as drug therapies are working for the patient. Of all tests ordered, 13% of pathology tests are used for this purpose.

The post The Value of Pathology Throughout COVID-19 first appeared on Know Pathology Know Healthcare.

A pathology test is the testing of bodily tissues or fluids such as blood, urine, or faeces to determine the presence of a disease or to investigate it further. Pathology is the study of disease, including its causes and progression.

When you are sick or need to be screened for an illness, the results of your pathology tests will usually be used to diagnose a health condition and decide your treatment plan, or to let you know that no disease is present. While your healthcare provider will take care of this process for you, you may want to understand what to expect and why you need the test.

There are many reasons to have a pathology test, including but not limited to, treating or monitoring disease, preventing diseases, assessing the risk of developing a disease and aiding medical research. If you have been ordered to have a pathology test by your doctor, it is usually for one of these reasons.

Processing pathology tests involves a range of professionals who help inform healthcare practitioners to make the best choices for their patients every day. These include pathologists, laboratory managers, technicians and assistants, medical scientists, phlebotomists who collect the pathology samples, and couriers who transport the samples.

Different kinds of pathology tests

There are a great variety of pathology tests that can be ordered by your GP or doctor, including blood, urine, faeces, and bodily tissues tests. These detect a range of disease and health conditions. Some of the more common pathology tests you may come across are:

• Full blood count
• Liver function test
• Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test
• Iron studies
• Urinalysis
• INR (International Normalised Ratio)
• Tissue biopsy

However, not all pathology tests are carried out with the end goal of investigating disease. Some of them may be regular screening tests which form parts of national screening programs, such as the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program or the National Cervical Screening Program in Australia. These programs work to conduct pathology tests regularly in order to ensure disease is picked up in its early stages. This means that it can be treated earlier, and have better health outcomes for patients.

Why do I need to have a blood test?

A blood test may be ordered for a number of reasons by your doctor. For example, a screening test may be offered to you if you have reached an age where you are more at risk of disease. If you have symptoms, your doctor might order a blood test to find out the cause. Even a negative or normal test result can help your doctor by ruling out some conditions and guiding further investigation of your symptoms.

A good example of this is a full blood count, which is a common test that is ordered to assess you for a wide range of illnesses, infections, and diseases. The test will give your doctor information about the number and condition of cells in your blood that fluctuate with your immune response, such as red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

Abnormalities in the concentration of these cells can indicate conditions such as anaemia, infections, or blood cancers.

It is important to make sure you have the pathology tests that your doctor has advised but if you are unsure why tests are needed, you can always ask your doctor to explain what the test is for.

Can I get my pathology results online?

You may be able to access your pathology results online, but only after your GP has discussed them with you.

How you receive your test results will depend on the type of test you are having, your pathology provider and the protocols of the healthcare professional referring you for the test.

In most cases, your doctor will be the first to receive your pathology test results, and they will then be able to go through them with you in detail to explain what your results mean for you and your health.

My Health Record is the national digital health record platform for Australia. If you have registered with the platform, you will be able to access your pathology results online seven days after your doctor unless you have specified otherwise.

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