Preparing for a test | Abbott Pathology

Before the test

What to bring to the collection centre

Pathology test request form completed by your doctor
A valid Medicare card and/or Private Health Insurance card , or overseas healthcard card (OSHC) and photo ID – this will ensure your testing is billed to Medicare or your healthcare provider if eligible
A list of any current medication and doses

You will also need to bring photo ID if you are having a test for any of the following reasons:

You are an overseas healthcare card holder
Immigration
Occupational Health
Parentage DNA
Insurance
Drug Screening
Court Ordered Testing

What to do before your test

‍Your pre-testing instructions will depend on the test you’re having, but the most important thing to do is drink plenty of water before your test – unless your GP has given you a reason not to. This will make it easier for our team member to conduct your blood test.

In some cases, you may be required to fast before your test. This means you will not be able to eat or drink for a set period of time. Fasting is necessary for some tests because some foods and drinks can affect your results.

Your doctor will advise if you are required to fast for your blood test.

About fasting

Diabetics should not fast without prior medical advice.
Fasting means that you abstain from all food and fluids other than water for a period of 8-14 hours prior to your test.
Alcohol should not be consumed for 72 hours (3 days) prior to the test.
You should avoid smoking during the fasting period.
Do not fast for more than 16 hours prior to your testing.
Continue to take any medication unless advised otherwise by your doctor.
Children under 12 should avoid fasting for more than 4-6 hours.

General fasting information guide

Tests that may require fasting include

Glucose levels
Lipids levels (cholesterol)

These instructions should be adhered to unless advised otherwise by your doctor.

Pathology testing for children

When taking your child for a blood test, it is a good idea to explain why the test is necessary, and exactly what is involved. Often bringing a favourite toy, book or colouring activity can help your child feel more comfortable.

Children over the age of 12 years can have their collection performed at any of our centres. For children aged from 1 to 12 years, we have specialised paediatric collection centres with collectors who have been trained in paediatric care.

To find one of these options – select “Paediatric Collection (0-12 months), (1-5 years), (6-12 years) from the “Any test” drop-down menu in the search criteria.

Please call the collection centre you plan to attend ahead of time and make an appointment.

Sometimes your child or baby may require a urine sample to be collected for testing. Please see Urine Collection (Paediatrics) below for further information.

After your blood test

General information

Once the blood collection is complete:

Please leave dressing strip in place for 2-4 hours
Avoid activities which may cause direct impact on the puncture site for 24 hours. If your skin is particularly thin, it may also be advisable to avoid activities which require energetic use of your arm (such as sports, digging or carrying heavy items) for 24 hours.

Your pathology report will be sent directly to your doctor. Please make an appointment with your doctor to discuss results.

Rarely, patients may experience some bleeding, swelling, discomfort or bruising. Should this occur the following steps are recommended:

Bleeding at needle puncture site:
Apply firm pressure directly over the needle site and elevate the arm until bleeding stops.

Discomfort or swelling around needle puncture site:

Elevate the arm and apply an ice pack to the site. This will help reduce bruising.

Excessive bruising:Rest the arm.

Apply ice pack to the area.

After blood collection information guide

Drug screening

Drug Screen AS4308 (Urine Lab DAS) with Direct Observation

Payment

This test incurs an out-of-pocket fee, which must be paid at the time of collection unless a third party has been nominated to cover the costs.

If you nominate a third party, you must provide Abbott Pathology with a written statement (on letter-headed paper) or a pre-printed chain of custody form from the third party, clearly stating that they will accept responsibility for the payment.

Important:
The collection will not proceed without either payment or confirmation that a third party will cover the costs.

What to Expect

Photo ID must be shown to the collector for the collection to proceed.
The collector is required to directly observe passage of urine from the urethra to the container.
You will need to sign all tamper-evident labels, seals, and forms. Please follow the collector’s instructions on where to sign.
You will be asked about your current medications and other personal information. This information is recorded on the chain of custody form.
You will need to be in the presence of the collector until the last sample is sealed in a tamper-evident bag. Please be patient and wait until the collector instructs you to leave.

Sample Collection – General Steps

The collector will ask you to remove coats/jumpers and to empty your pockets. All personal belongings will be left outside the collection room.
You will be asked to wash your hands prior to producing a sample.
A coloured solution will be added to the toilet. Water taps and soap will be made tamper-evident (e.g., a paper bag taped over the taps).
A sample collection cup will be provided for you to submit a minimum of 40mL of urine.
- A collection staff member will stand in front of you (female) or closely beside you (male) to observe you urinating.
Once finished, the sample cup is handed to the collector. The collector observes the toilet prior to flushing.
The urine will undergo two integrity checks – temperature and creatinine. If the temperature or creatinine is outside the normal range, or anything unusual is noted about the urine, another sample will be required. Delay refrigerate the specimen.

Drug Screen AS4308 (Urine Lab DAS)

Payment

This test incurs an out-of-pocket fee, which must be paid at the time of collection unless a third party has been nominated to cover the costs.

Important:
The collection will not proceed without either payment or confirmation that a third party will cover the costs.

What to Expect

Photo ID must be shown to the collector for the collection to proceed.
You will need to sign all tamper-evident labels, seals, and forms. Please follow the collector’s instructions on where to sign.
You will be asked about your current medications and other personal information. This information is recorded on the chain of custody form.
You will need to be in the presence of the collector until the last sample is sealed in a tamper-evident bag. Please be patient and wait until the collector instructs you to leave.

Sample Collection – General Steps

The collector will ask you to remove coats/jumpers and to empty your pockets. All personal belongings will be left outside the collection room.
You will be asked to wash your hands prior to producing a sample.
A coloured solution will be added to the toilet. Water taps and soap will be made tamper-evident (e.g., a paper bag taped over the taps).
A sample collection cup will be provided for you to submit a minimum of 40mL of urine.
- The collection staff member waits outside the cubicle with the door slightly ajar whilst you urinate.
Once finished, the sample cup is handed to the collector. The collector observes the toilet prior to flushing.
The urine will undergo two integrity checks – temperature and creatinine. If the temperature or creatinine is outside the normal range, or anything unusual is noted about the urine, another sample will be required.

Drug Screen - Saliva

Payment

This test incurs an out-of-pocket fee, which must be paid at the time of collection unless a third party has been nominated to cover the costs.

Important:
The collection will not proceed without either payment or confirmation that a third party will cover the costs.

What to Expect

Photo ID must be shown to the collector prior to collection.
You must not eat, drink, smoke, vape, or rinse your mouth for at least 10 minutes before the test.
The collector will be in view while you swab the inside of your mouth.
The collector will be present with you during the testing. Please follow all instructions given by them during the procedure.
A form will be given to you to complete information about your current medications, personal details, and consent. Please read and complete it to the best of your ability.

Sample Collection – General Overview

The collector will give you the instant device, which you will swab over your mouth until it is soaked with fluid.

Do not suck or chew on the swab.
If the test result is “non-negative” and your company requires confirmation, a second collection will take place.
The second sample will be sent to the laboratory at a further cost.

Drug Screen - Instant Urine

Payment

This test incurs an out-of-pocket fee, which must be paid at the time of collection unless a third party has been nominated to cover the costs.

Important:
The collection will not proceed without either payment or confirmation that a third party will cover the costs.

What to Expect

During your visit, you will provide a urine sample under controlled conditions. A trained collector will guide you through the process to ensure compliance and test integrity. The test provides instant results, but non-negative samples may require further laboratory confirmation.

Specimen Collection Process

1. Identification & Documentation

You must present valid photo ID and complete the required forms.

2. Pre-Collection Steps

You may be asked to remove outer garments and wash your hands to prevent tampering.
The restroom will have tamper-evident measures in place.

3. Providing the Sample

A minimum of 40mL of urine is required in a provided collection cup.
Do not flush the toilet.

4. Instant Test Results

The collector will conduct the test on-site:

If negative, the result is recorded, and no further action is required.
If non-negative, the sample will be split into tubes, sealed, and sent for laboratory confirmation.

5. Final Documentation

Both you and the collector must sign all relevant forms before the process is completed.

Drug Screen - Hair

Payment

This test incurs an out-of-pocket fee, which must be paid at the time of collection unless a third party has been nominated to cover the costs.

Important:
The collection will not proceed without either payment or confirmation that a third party will cover the costs.

What to Expect

Photo ID must be shown to the collector for the collection to proceed.
You will need to sign all tamper-evident labels, seals, and forms. Please follow the collector’s instructions on where to sign.
You will be asked about your current medications and other personal information. This information is recorded on the chain of custody form.
You will need to be in the presence of the collector until the last sample is sealed in a tamper-evident bag. Please be patient and wait until the collector instructs you to leave.

Sample Collection – General Steps

It is important that the required amount of hair is collected to enable the full drug screen to be performed.
Head hair is preferred, with at least 3 cm in length and the thickness of a pencil, regardless of whether it is chemically treated or not.
The sample will be taken from the nape (back of the head) as this has the most regular growth pattern and is cut straight and as close to the scalp as possible.
If no head hair is available, permission from the testing laboratory is required to collect an equivalent amount of body hair.
The hair sample is then divided into two equal portions, sealed for security, and sent to the testing laboratory.
Testing is performed weekly, and the expected turnaround time for results varies:
- 10-14 days for Drugs of Abuse
- 4 weeks for Alcohol testing

Urine testing

24hr urine collection

Please Follow These Instructions Carefully‍

24 Hour Urine Collection‍

WARNING: An acid preservative may have been added into the collection bottle. If this is the case, the bottle should be marked ACID. This preservative may be harmful if spilt or splashed onto yourself. If you do spill some acid, wash the affected area with copious amounts of water. If ACID is marked on the bottle:

Do not urinate directly into the container
Wash any splashes or spills with copious amounts of water
Keep the container away from children and pets.

All urine for a 24 hour period must be collected into the supplied container. You may begin at any time which is suitable for you but you must be able to complete the collection exactly 24 hours later.

At a suitable time, empty your bladder into the toilet. Record this date and time on the label of the container [No. 2]. This is the start time.
Using boiling water, wash out a clean plastic container (or similar).
Pass urine into the clean plastic container
Transfer all urine passed into the supplied container for the next 24 hours.
Exactly 24 hours from the start time, empty your bladder into the container and write this date and time on the label of the container [No. 4].
The container should be kept in a cool place during the test and when it is complete.
Return the container to the collection centre as soon as possible.

‍

Collection of urine for cytology

Your doctor may wish you to provide 3 samples over 3 consecutive mornings.

In a specimen container:

1. Collect the complete SECOND urine specimen of the MORNING.

FOR FEMALES:

Before collecting urine sample, use a sterile water wipe to clean the urethral opening, wiping from front to back. Discard wipe.

2. Specimens should be kept refrigerated until taken to your nearest Abbott Pathology Collection Centre (see back of request form
for centre locations).

‍

First stream urine collection

PROCEDURE FOR BOTH MALE AND FEMALE

Ideally, (you) the patient should not have passed urine for at least an hour.
MALES - retract foreskin (if applicable) FEMALES – part the labia
Pass first 10-20mls of urine into sterile jar. Pass remaining urine into toilet.
NOTE: Maximum amount in jar = 1/3 full (approx. 20mls)
Screw lid firmly onto jar.
Return sample to your nearest Abbott Pathology Collection Centre as soon as possible (see back of request form for centre locations).

Urine Collection Female - Random (Mid Stream)

Wash your hands.
Using a clean moist tissue or toilet paper, separate the labia skin folds and wipe from front to back.
Pass some urine into the toilet first.
Pass some urine into the container provided without touching the inside of the bowl.
Finish passing urine into toilet.
Please bring the yellow-topped container to the pathology collector.

Urine Collection Male - Random (Mid Stream)

1. Wash hands with soap and warm water
2. Retract foreskin if needed.
3. Remove the lid of the jar without touching the inside of the jar or lid.
4. Pass the first part of the urine into the toilet.
5. Then collect some urine into the jar. (Approximately 2 fill.)
6. Pass the remaining urine into the toilet.
7. Screw lid firmly onto jar.
8. Return sample to the collector at the nearest Abbott Pathology Collection Centre as soon as possible. (see back of request form for centre locations)

Urine collection - infants

This is done to make or exclude a diagnosis of urinary tract infection. Collection of a clean sample is important as contamination may interfere with an accurate result.

Please follow these instructions:

Using hot soapy water, wash out a plastic container (e.g ice-cream container). Dry container well.
Try to collect sample when baby's nappy is dry indicating he/she may be ready to pass urine.
Bath baby, washing the penis/labia well.
Pat the baby dry.
Hold baby over the plastic container with knees bent upwards. After a short wait baby will probably pass urine.
Place baby on the floor, bed, or large surface from which he/she will not fall.
Open the yellow top specimen jar and pour urine directly into the container.
Screw jar lid firmly onto jar and write baby's name, date of birth and time/date of collection.
Place the specimen jar in the fridge.
Attend to baby.
Please deliver to your nearest Abbott Pathology Collection Centre as soon as you can.
If this fails, a bag urine collection may be required. (These are available at your nearest collection centre.)
If you have any queries, please telephone us on 08 8159 7900 and speak to the Duty Manager.