Preparing for a test

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.

Tests that may require fasting include

Glucose levels
Lipids levels (cholesterol)

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

Download pdf

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.

Download pdf

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.

Drug screening

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.

If you nominate a third party, you must provide WDP 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.
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

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 - 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 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 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.

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.

Urine testing

Urine Collection Diet (5HIAA & Catecholamine)

A number of drugs including antihypertensive agents (blood pressure medications) and antidepressants may interfere with these urinary tests. Do not restrict or cease these drugs unless advised by your doctor.

You should ensure that your medications are being taken on a regular daily basis for the 3-4 days prior to and during the collection.

In addition, as illness can misleadingly raise the results of these tests, avoid collecting the sample during intercurrent illness (e.g., flu).

When testing for urinary 5-HIAA or serotonin, exclude from your diet all nuts and vegetables or fruit containing seeds for 3-4 days prior to and during the collection. This includes bananas. Some examples of foods to exclude are:

Avocado
Chilli
Eggplant
Pineapple
Tomato
Banana
Plum
Chilli
Walnuts
Pecans

Urine Collection for Cytology

Your doctor has requested one or three samples of urine for examination. This test is very important to assess your health and will only give useful results if collected properly.

Normal body secretions may alter the results, so it is necessary to clean and dry the genital area thoroughly. Please follow these guideliness

PLEASE COMPLETE THE RELEVANT PATIENT INFORMATION ON THE SPECIMEN CONTAINER LABEL AND RETURN TO THE COLLECTION CENTRE PROMPTLY.

Instructions:

Do not collect the first urine of the day. The sample must be from a second or later void of the day.
Wash the genital area with a towelette.
Collect the first part of the urine into the jar provided.
Screw down the lid on the jar, firmly.
Write your name, surname, date of birth and date of collection on the jar.
Take the sample to a Western Diagnostic Pathology collection centre as soon as possible. Refrigerate if a delay of a few hours in sending the specimen is anticipated.
Your doctor may request you send in samples from three separate days. If required, please repeat above steps.

Urine Collection PCR Test (Chlamydia)

Your doctor requires you to collect urine in order to test for Chlamydia trachomatis. Before collection, it is necessary to thoroughly clean and dry the genital area, as normal body secretions may alter the results.

PLEASE COMPLETE THE RELEVANT PATIENT INFORMATION ON THE SPECIMEN CONTAINER LABEL AND RETURN CONTAINERS TO THE COLLECTION CENTRE PROMPTLY.

Instructions:

You must not have urinated for one hour prior to making this collection
Remove the lid from the urine container
Pass the first 20-30ml of urine into the jar provided, holding the jar by the outside
Do not allow your fingers to touch the inside of the jar or lid
Screw down the lid on the jar FIRMLY

Urine Collection (Paediatrics)

Make sure the pubic and genital areas have been thoroughly washed, and are clean, dry and free from powder. Wash your hands and open the paediatric urine bag. Remove the strip of protective paper on the bag, exposing the adhesive. DO NOT place your fingers inside the bag as this will contaminate the sample.

Female collection

Position the wider part of the opening of the bag so that it covers the upper part of the genitalia, ensuring that the small end of the opening is applied firmly to the skin in the area between the vagina and rectum. Apply gentle pressure to the adhesive area to seal.

Male collection

The wider section of the opening is placed under the scrotum, the penis inserted into the bag and firm pressure applied to the adhesive area to seal.

It is advisable to attach the bag before feeding baby
Check every 15 minutes to see if baby has passed urine
It is not advisable to apply a tight nappy
Do not leave paediatric bag on baby for more than 1hr
Discontinue using if skin develops allergy symptoms
When specimen has been collected, remove bag gently by tucking up. Then fold the two adhesive surfaces together and seal bag
Hold bag over a sterile urine container and using clean scissors, cut off a corner, let the urine run into the jar, replace lid and dispose of plastic collection bag
Write baby’s surname, first name, date of birth, and time and date of collection on the container label
Return container to the collection centre promptly
Inform staff that sample was collected using a paediatric bag

Urine Collection – 24 Hour

At the starting time, empty your bladder into the toilet
All further urine for the next 24 hours must be passed directly through the funnel into the bottle provided
Record name, DOB, and start and finish time on the label
Keep urine refrigerated during collection
Ensure that the cap is screwed on firmly before returning the bottle to the collection centre.

It is important to ensure that the bottle is kept upright at all times as some bottles contain corrosive additives.

Please ask for two bottles if you think that one will not be sufficient.

For example:

6.00am day 1
Empty bladder and discard the urine into the toilet. Pass all urine for the next 24 hours into the bottle.

6.00am day 2
Next morning, empty bladder into the bottle. This will complete the collection.

Urine Collection Male - Random (Mid Stream)

Your doctor has requested a urine sample for examination. This test is very important to assess your health and will only give useful results if collected properly. Normal body secretions may alter the results, so it is necessary to clean the area where urine is passed thoroughly. Please follow these guidelines.

Do not hesitate to ask for assistance.

PLEASE COMPLETE THE RELEVANT PATIENT INFORMATION ON THE SPECIMEN CONTAINER LABEL AND RETURN CONTAINERS TO THE COLLECTION CENTRE PROMPTLY.

Wash hands
Expose penis and gently retract foreskin (if present) to its limit. (In young uncircumcised boys the foreskin is attached to the glans penis by firm adhesions. If the foreskin is retracted too vigorously then these adhesions will be ruptured and bleeding will occur)
Wash the glans penis with a towelette, repeating this cleansing procedure with a second towelette
Pass a small amount of urine into the toilet
Then pass urine into the jar provided, holding the jar by the outside. Do not allow the skin of your fingers to touch the inside of the jar or the lid. If you drop the jar on the floor, please ask for another
Screw down the lid on the jar FIRMLY.

Urine Collection Female - Random (Mid Stream)

Your doctor requested a urine sample for examination. This test is very important to assess your health and will only give useful results if collected properly. Normal body secretions may alter the results, so it is necessary to clean the area where urine is passed thoroughly. Please follow these guidelines. Do not hesitate to ask for assistance.

PLEASE COMPLETE THE RELEVANT PATIENT INFORMATION ON THE SPECIMEN CONTAINER LABEL AND RETURN CONTAINERS TO THE COLLECTION CENTRE PROMPTLY.

Wash hands
Remove undergarments and part knees to allow thorough cleansing of the urine opening
Sit comfortably on the seat, placing one knee as far to the side as you can
Using the left hand, part the skin folds
Wash the area from which you pass urine with a towelette, using a cleansing action from the front of your body to the back. This is to be repeated twice using a clean towelette each time
Pass a small amount of urine into the toilet
Then pass urine into the jar provided, holding the jar by the outside. Do not allow the skin of your fingers to touch inside of either the jar or the lid. If you drop the jar on the floor, please ask for another
Screw down the lid on the jar, firmly.