Address: PO Box 110031, AUckland Hospital, Park Rd, Grafton, Auckland. Tollfree: 800 522 7587, Tel: +64 (09) 3078995.

 

 

 

 

automated biochemistry

endocrinology

 

 

 
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LabPLUS is part of Auckland District Health Board
and provides medical laboratory testing
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  Services

 

CHEMICAL PATHOLOGY
 
bulletpoint Automated Biochemistry bulletpoint Endocrinology
bulletpoint Special Techniques bulletpoint Trace Metals
bulletpoint Toxicology & HPLC
   
  Key Contacts:
Colleen Harvey, Technical Head
Dr James Davidson, Clinical Head
 		    

The Chemical Pathology Laboratory of LabPLUS is one of New Zealand's premier reference laboratories. The extensive range of analytes offered by the department provides its clients with a service that is focused and unique.

The department consists of the following sections: Rapid Response, Specialist Testing (incorporating Endocrinology, Special Techniques and Trace Metals) and Chromatography (incorporating Toxicology and HPLC). The experience of its chemical pathologists, scientists and technical staff provides an in depth clinical interpretation of tests.
   
bulletpoint Chemical Pathology Rapid Response Section
   
 

Key Contacts:
Sarah Sargon, Section Leader

Pam Wiltshire, Technical Specialist

Lesley Stewart, Technical Specialist

Rengee Moodley, Technical Specialist

 
Supervised by a section leader and three technical specialists and supported by skilled technical staff this section is able to provide a quality service 24 hours, 7 days a week. Based at  Auckland City Hospital the Rapid Response staff are able to support the two major hospitals, Auckland City Hospital and Starship Children’s Health as well as the Greenlane Clinical Centre. 

This fully automated Chemical Pathology Section uses a variety of computer interfaced, state of the art equipment to deliver quality results with quick turn around times. We offer up to 65 general and specialist chemistries, therapeutic drug analysis, and cardiac and tumour marker assays. Our turnaround times generally range from 30 minutes to 4 hours from receipt to reporting, depending on the test. This section processes up to 1500 patients per day.

By continually investigating new automated assays, we strive to improve our role as a modern quality health care provider.

The Rapid Response Section is proud to be the only New Zealand Laboratory taking part in the CDC Lipid Standardisation Programme. By being involved in clinical studies and by maintaining the expertise to manage non-routine testing, this section is able to keep abreast of changes and innovations.
 
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bulletpoint Endocrinology
   
  Key Contacts:
Margie Matson, Section Leader

Linda Henderson, Technical Specialist

The Endocrinology Group offers both a hormone and tumour marker measurement service and a consultation service.

The Clinical Head welcomes enquiries about the tests provided and is available to make clinical comments on the results for both diagnosis and treatment. Enquiries are also welcomed regarding research studies using both current assays provided and development of new assays for clinical research.

The endocrinology group of Lab Plus measures over 30 hormones and tumour markers used in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients. These assays may be found in the LabPLUS Test Guide. Broadly the assays fall into the following clinical diagnostic categories:
  (a) Tumour Marking
   

Ovarian, breast, stomach, gonadal, adrenal and pituitary.
  (b) Adrenal problems:
   

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Addisons disease, adrenal suppression, Conn's syndrome, Cushing's syndrome etc.
  (c) Gonadal problems:
    (1) Females:
     

Amenorrhoea and menstrual disturbances, menopause, hirsutism, and infertility
    (2) Males:
     

Impotence, gynaecomastia
  (d) Pituitary problems:
   

Hypopituitarism, galactorrhoea and amenorrhoea
  (e) Stature problems (short/tall)
 
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bulletpoint Special Techniques
   
 

Key Contacts:

Dr Roger Johnson, Scientific Officer

Tony Marcinkowski, Technical Specialist
The Special Techniques Section generally undertakes tests where the demand for them can be variable including but not limited to porphyrins, sweat tests, examination of renal calculi, blood and plasma cholinesterase, and faecal chymotrypsin. Although many assays are performed by traditional manual procedures, automated modern technology is used where possible. The evaluation of glucose meters is also provided here.
 
   
bulletpoint Trace Metals
   
 

Key Contact:

Barry Palmer, Scientific Officer
The Trace Metals Section is supervised by a Scientific Officer and specialises in the measurement of trace elements by utilising inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) technology. This technique allows measurements to be made on a range of sample types including whole blood, serum, plasma, urine and liver biopsy samples, where specimen requirements depend on the element to be analysed.

The analysis of essential trace elements is not only important in dietary monitoring, but also aids in the clinical assessment of disease status (i.e. Wilson's Disease). The measurement of non-essential trace elements, including lead and mercury, plays an important role in poisoning detection, as well as monitoring occupational exposure.

Participation in Australian based external survey programmes ensure that quality results to industry standards are provided. The continual review of new techniques and assays allow for improvement to the existing service.
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bulletpoint Chromatography
   
 

Key Contacts:

Gopyraj Sundararajah, Section Leader

Ayka Hammer-Plecas, Technical Specialist

Dr Hima Madhavaram, Scientific Officer
Dr Ron Couch, Scientific Officer Toxicology

Dr Gerald Woollard, Scientific Officer HPLC

 
The Chromatography Section of Chemical Pathology offers a wide range of specialist services.  Chromatography Section consists of Toxicology, Workplace Drug Testing, and HPLC disciplines.  The section is managed by a section leader, three scientific officers and a technical specialist.  The section operates from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday for routine work and is available for urgent work 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Chromatography Section uses the following instrumentation/techniques to provide an appropriate high quality service:

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
Gas chromatography-thermionic detection (GC-NPD)
Gas chromatography-head space analysis

High pressure liquid chromatography - photodiode array detection

High pressure liquid chromatography - UV and fluorescence detection

High pressure liquid chromatography - Electrochemical detection
Automated enzyme immunoassay
Fluorescence polarization immunoassay
Thin layer chromatography (TLC)
Solid phase extraction (SPE)

 
Therapeutic Drug Quantification
 
Antiarrythmics Antibiotics
Anticonvulsants Analgesics
Antidepressants Immunosuppressives
Antipsychotics Antineoplastic
Antiasthmatics  
 
Overdose Drug Screen
 
Analgesics (narcotic and non-narcotic) Antihypertensives
Antianxiety agents Antimalarials
Antiemetics Central stimulants
Antidepressants Hallucinogens
Antihistamines  
 
Other HPLC tests
 
Fat soluble vitamins
Phorphrin identification
Biogenic amines
 
The following screens must be requested specifically
 
Glycolic Acid Screen
Sulphonylurea Serum Screen
Laxative Abuse Screen
Cotinine Urine Screen
Volatile Alcohol Screen - methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol
 
Narcotic/Illicit Drug Screen
 
The requestor should be as specific as possible as to what drug/drug group is required to be investigated.
See our LabPLUS Test Guide
 
Workplace and Employment Drug Screen
 
We can offer appropriate urine specimen collection kits and chain of custody documentation.  Urine specimens collected for this type of screening should not be forwarded as typical clinical specimens since legal implications may be involved.
See our Drug Testing site.
 
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