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The study looked at a 15-week period in 2020-2021 and compared pre-pandemic mortality rates with an equivalent period in 2019, accounting exclusively for non-COVID-related deaths.

There were 30,118 non-COVID-19-related deaths in people with diabetes in the 2021 period compared to 27,132 deaths in the 2019 period, representing an 11% increase. The data also captured participation in recommended health checks for people with diabetes.

In 2020-2021, only 853,669 (27%) of the cohort received the annually recommended 8 care processes for people living with diabetes. This was 45 per cent less than 2019-2020, when 1,547,240 people (48%) received all 8 care processes.

COVID-19 containment measures made it harder for people living with diabetes to access regular health checks. As a result, 693,571 people may have missed some of the important health checks and tests to effectively monitor their condition, and reduce the risk of complications, including heart disease and amputations. People with chronic conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease and heart disease need regular pathology tests to manage their condition.

Chair of Pathology Awareness Australia, John Crothers said: “This highlights concerns that we have here in Australia on the impact of reduced participation in healthcare resulting from COVID containment measures during the pandemic. The tragedy of this increase in deaths tells us we need better awareness of the importance of healthcare participation across the board, especially for people with chronic conditions, or at risk of developing them.”

Diabetes Australia Group CEO Justine Cain added, “People with diabetes are at a much higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 and many people took appropriate steps to limit their risk of exposure to the virus. However, this led to many people missing important health checks.”

Due to the comparable nature of the two countries, and the potential implications beyond diabetes to other chronic conditions the study is worrying for Australian health professionals.

In Australia, routine pathology testing dropped by around 40 per cent across the board at the start of the pandemic and there is concern that many who delayed testing have not yet caught up.

Four of the eight annually recommended care processes listed in the study are pathology tests. These include a glycated haemoglobin check known as HbA1c. This blood test is used to help diagnose and monitor people with diabetes, alongside a cholesterol blood test that looks at the levels of cholesterol and other fats in the blood, a serum creatinine blood test, and urine albumin which are both used to check kidney function.

Chemical Pathologist and PAA ambassador, Graham Jones said: “This study can also be seen to have implications beyond the effects of the COVID epidemic, that for people with diabetes, the best health outcomes require access to full healthcare services, of which regular pathology testing are a major component.”

This study highlights the increased risk of mortality in those living with diabetes who did not receive all eight care processes in one or both of the previous two years.

Diabetes Australia is urging people living with diabetes to keep up to date with their routine management and monitoring diabetes checks, and to not put them off.

Ms Cain said, “We know living with diabetes can be tough and there are a range of different health checks people need to have to stay on top of their diabetes. However, we want to encourage people with diabetes to connect with their diabetes health team. Most diabetes-related complications are preventable if detected early which is why regular health checks are so important.”

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, patient diagnosis and monitoring has been severely impacted by Australians missing their health appointments and routine checks.

If patients prefer not to attend health appointments in person, it is possible for a GP to request pathology tests based on a telehealth appointment.

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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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According to the Cancer Council, about 15,500 Australians are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year, and although it is most common in people over 50, it can develop at any age. Bowel cancer claims the lives of 5,255 people a year.

Bowel cancer typically develops in the inner lining of the bowel and usually begins with growths called polyps, which may become cancerous if left undetected. While the risk of developing bowel cancer increases with age, if detected early there is a better chance of it being treated successfully.

Online publication, Starts at 60 sat down with the experts for an in-depth look at the symptoms, risk factors and what steps to take to prevent bowel cancer developing. Read the full article featuring Anatomical Pathologist and Ambassador for Pathology Awareness Australia, Dr Nick Musgrave

VIDEO: SBS Broadcaster Anton Enus learns about bowel cancer testing inside a pathology lab

The post Are you at risk of bowel cancer? Signs, symptoms and who should get tested first appeared on Know Pathology Know Healthcare.

The National Cervical Screening Program monitoring report 2021 from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows that of those invited for a screening test during 2020, only 20 per cent completed the test within 12 months¹.

In the 25-29 age group, only 12 per cent of those invited to screen had their test.

The report estimates that overall only 62% of eligible people participated in the cervical screening program in 2018-2020.¹

VIDEO: Professor Marion Saville speaking to Channel 7 Sunrise

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.

Women aged 25-74 are recommended to have a cervical screening test every 5 years. The test looks for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) known to cause the majority of cervical cancers.

In July 2022, self-collection of samples for cervical screening tests has become 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, Professor Marion Saville AM said: “Australians need to be aware that prevention of cervical cancer requires regular screening as well as HPV vaccination for those who are eligible. Young people who have been vaccinated are not protected against every type of HPV so still need to be tested.”

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.

VIDEO: Prof Marion Saville speaking on 10 News

Prof Saville added; “HPV is a very common virus and most adults who are sexually active will be exposed to it during their lifetime. HPV can cause changes in the cells that lead to cancer. If this isn’t picked up early it can require more invasive treatment that can affect reproductive choices and of course in the worst cases, cervical cancer can be fatal.

From this month, people will be able to collect their own sample from the vagina using a small swab for their cervical screening test. We hope that this encourages more people to come forward for screening.”

The test is now only required every 5 years (for those testing negative to HPV) and is recommended for anyone with a cervix who is sexually active, aged between 25-74.

The National Cervical Screening Program changed to a 5 yearly cycle from a 2 yearly cycle in December 2017.

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

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 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.

A study published in Medical Journal Australia in 2019 noted the prevalence of cancer-causing HPV types other than type 16 and 18, was highest in women aged 25–29 years.⁴

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.⁵

References:

1. https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/2a26ae22-2f84-4d75-a656-23c329e476bb/aihw-can-141.pdf.aspx?inline=true
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
4. https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2019/211/3/routine-cervical-screening-primary-hpv-testing-early-findings-renewed-national
5. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer-screening/national-cervical-screening-program-monitoring-rep/formats

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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.

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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