• Understanding your tests
  • Understanding your tests
  • Reference Intervals - an Overview
  • Reading your results
  • How samples are collected
  • What to expect when having a blood test
  • Looking for your results?
  • Coping with discomfort and anxiety
  • Why identification is important
  • How reliable are pathology tests
    • Accuracy, precision, specificity & sensitivity
    • Quality
    • Reference Intervals and what they mean
    • Laboratory accreditation - the basis for confidence in your result
    • Role of testing
    • Validation, use and interpretation of pathology tests
  • How can you be sure information is trustworthy?
    • Safe web searching
    • Misleading or inappropriate tests
  • Choosing Wisely Australia
  • Radiology
• Inside the lab
  • Inside the lab
  • Follow a sample
    • Blood sample
    • Throat culture
  • Laboratory methods
  • People in labs
    • Pathologists
    • Scientists
  • Pathology disciplines
  • Anatomical pathology
    • Histopathology
    • Tissue preparation
    • Techniques
    • Frozen sections
    • Cytopathology
    • Pathologists
    • Related pages
    • Sources
  • Genetic testing
    • Clinical genetic testing
    • Cytogenetics
    • Online DNA tests
    • Pharmacogenomics
    • Tissue typing for transplantation
    • Infectious disease testing
    • Identity testing
    • Parentage testing
    • Pros and cons
    • Epigenetics
    • The future
    • Biochemical genetic testing
    • Related links
  • Blood banking
    • Donating blood
    • Protecting supply
    • Ensuring proper use
    • Patient identification
    • Risks
    • Related links
• News
  • Pathology News
    • "Big Data" and a supercomputer used to create a new Pathology Atlas for cancer researchers
    • A blood test for Alzheimer's disease
    • A new blood test that could transform tuberculosis diagnosis in developing countries
    • A new direction for “liquid biopsy” technique. Detection of liver fibrosis using DNA sequencing tech
    • A new take on liquid biopsies for cancer screening
    • A potential new concussion biomarker needing just a blood test?
    • Angelina Jolie's announcement sparks interest in BRCA, but this testing is not for everyone.
    • Antibody Testing for COVID-19
    • Australian researchers developing a blood test for melanoma detection
    • Biotin (vitamin B7) interference in pathology test results
    • Bladder cancer and molecular testing
    • Blood test for Alzheimer’s Disease
    • Blood Test for Alzheimer’s Disease
    • Blood test identifies brain damage from concussion in ice hockey.
    • Can a laboratory test help smokers decide how to stop?
    • CancerSEEK liquid biopsy test shows promise for early cancer detection
    • Caution required with new tests
    • Changes to cervical cancer screening program coming December 1st, 2017
    • Child-parent screening for risk of premature coronary heart disease.
    • Chip-based “liquid biopsy” blood test for multiple myeloma under development
    • CK-MB test should no longer be used for diagnosing heart attacks
    • Colorectal cancer screening is highly effective in reducing deaths from this disease.
    • Comforting Children During Blood Draws
    • Coronavirus update
    • Cystic Fibrosis mutations characterised.
    • Cytokine blood test promises fast confirmation of coeliac disease
    • Dangers of using third party DNA interpretation services.
    • Detecting melanoma recurrence
    • Detecting residual or recurrent neuroblastoma with a blood test
    • Developing a new blood test for coeliac disease
    • Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing
    • Down Syndrome Testing News
    • Experimental blood test checks for hundreds of virus antibodies at one time
    • Farewell and welcome: Our Chief Medical Editor Dr Bruce Campbell for 13 years signs off
    • FDA orders genetics company not to sell health-related tests direct to consumer.
    • Formation of Continuity of Care Coalition
    • Genetic Markers for Risk of Developing Prostate and Breast Cancer Uncovered
    • Genetic test helps some women with breast cancer avoid chemotherapy
    • Genetic Testing for Cancer Prognosis
    • Genetic Testing to Determine Risk of Developing Diseases
    • Genome Testing of SARS-CoV-2
    • Genome-Wide Polygenic Scores Identify Risk for Common Diseases
    • Harmonised Reference Intervals
    • Heathcare in the news? Treat it with a grain of salt.
    • How are Benefits and Harms Presented in US Cancer Screening and Prevention Guidelines?
    • Improving access to COVID-19 testing
    • Inherited cancer gene mutations - Implications for families
    • Interactive personal health records increase clinical preventive services including lab-based servic
    • Is it time to get your gut microbiome checked? Probably not yet.
    • It’s not only patients who have trouble interpreting some medical tests.
    • Lipid Levels and Cardiovascular Risk
    • Liquid Biopsies and Cancer Care
    • Is it time to get your gut microbiome checked? Probably not yet.
    • Many diabetics not having HbA1c test often enough and sometimes results not acted upon.
    • Medical Benefits Schedule lists HbA1c test for diagnosis of diabetes
    • More on screening for colon cancer
    • More people visit Lab Tests Online Australasia
    • More than vaccines are required to control the COVID-19 pandemic
    • National Health and Medical Research Council finds no evidence to support homeopathy.
    • New blood test for detecting fetal abnormalities available in Australia
    • New Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests
    • New genetic tests added to MBS schedule
    • New guideline for diagnosing diabetes in pregnancy
    • New Guidelines Differ in Advice on PSA Screening
    • New malaria test kit likely to improve malaria diagnosis, especially in remote settings.
    • New method shows potential for identification of early pancreatic cancers but is still too complex f
    • New Standards Developed for DNA Sequence Variation Databases
    • New study finds no reason for glucose monitoring in many Type 2 diabetics
    • New study suggests that people diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease may actually have chronic fatigue
    • New System for Grading Prostate Cancers
    • NIH announces $20 million contest to develop rapid tests for antibiotic resistance
    • NT Pathology links MHR results to Lab Tests OnlineAU
    • On the Horizon: Study Suggests Blood Test May Predict Response to Antidepressants
    • Pathology reports and My Health Record
    • Pathology testing plays a key role in largest ever Australian health survey
    • Pathology The Facts
    • Patients and pathology tests - what do patients want to know?
    • Patients need help understanding test results from Online Health Records
    • Potential new screening test for gestational diabetes
    • 'Precision Medicine' may raise false hopes in many cancer patients.
    • Preparing for 2019 Novel Coronavirus Cases
    • Rapid rise in genetic testing raising potential problems
    • Recommendation that Pap smears be replaced by a new test.
    • Research toward early detection of breast cancer recurrence
    • Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia leads off in campaign to list poor medical practices
    • Screening for ovarian cancer by monitoring cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) needs further assessment
    • Serum calcium and cancer risk
    • Some progress toward a simple saliva test for Alzheimer's disease
    • T Cell-mediated immunity in COVID-19
    • Testing for COVID-19 using saliva specimens
    • The quest for more rapid but effective testing of COVID-19
    • Top Ten Things You Should Know About Lab Tests
    • Tumour Marker Testing in early-Stage Breast Cancer
    • Unvalidated "Pathology" Tests
    • Urine glucose self-monitoring is as effective as blood glucose self-monitoring in type 2 diabetes.
    • Use of nonfasting blood samples for lipid testing
    • Working Towards a New Rapid Method for Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing
  • Site News
    • Condition and test just added to site
    • New article added to the website
    • Lab Tests Online Wins a Digital Health Award
    • New feature article added
    • New additions to the website
    • New Genetics Media Library launched
    • New tests added to website
    • Reading your results page updated
    • Screening tests - weighing up the benefits and harms
    • New test added - Alpha-gal antibody
    • Pharmacogenomic tests
    • We launch our new website!
    • Study shows dramatic increase in older people turning to the Internet for health information
    • Research identifies nurses as largest LTO user group
  • Supporter News
    • Friends of Science in Medicine
    • healthdirect app launched today
    • RCPA Pathology Information Terminology and Units Standardisation Project
    • Latest Media Release from RCPA
    • Learn why pathology testing is so important
    • RCPA ePathWay magazine available for viewing
    • World Haemochromatosis Week
• Test information
  • Tests
    • 1,5-AG
    • 1,5-anhydroglucitol
    • 17-Hydroxyprogesterone
    • 5HIAA urine
    • Angiotensin converting enzyme
    • Acetylcholine receptor Ab
    • ACTH
    • AFB
    • Acid fast bacilli culture
    • Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)
    • Albumin
    • Aldosterone and renin
    • ALK Mutation (Gene Rearrangement)
    • Emergency and Overdose Drug Testing
    • Hereditable Pathogenic Variants in Colorectal and Endometrial Cancer
    • Immunoglobulin E total
    • Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
    • Alpha-1-antitrypsin
    • Alpha-gal antibody
    • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
    • Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) genetic testing
    • Kidney function tests
    • Mitochondria Ab
    • AMAS
    • Amino acids
    • Ammonia
    • Amylase
    • Antinuclear Ab
    • ANCA/MPO/PR3 Antibodies
    • Antenatal group and screen
    • Anti-beta2 glycoprotein 1
    • Antibody identification
    • Centromere Ab
    • double stranded DNA Ab
    • Anti-Mullerian Hormone
    • Antiphospholipid antibodies
    • Antistreptolysin O Titre
    • Antithrombin
    • Apolipoprotein A-I
    • Apolipoprotein B
    • Apolipoprotein E genotyping
    • Activated partial thromboplastin time
    • Arbovirus Testing
    • ASOT
    • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
    • AST
    • Autoantibodies
    • B12
    • Bacterial Wound Culture
    • B-cell Immunoglobulin Gene Rearrangement
      • More details on B-cells
    • BCR-ABL1
    • Beta-2 glycoprotein 1 Antibodies
    • Beta-2-microglobulin
    • Beta-2-transferrin
    • Bicarbonate
    • Bilirubin
    • Blood culture
    • Blood film examination
    • Blood gases
    • Blood group
    • BRAF V600 Mutation
    • Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP or NT-proBNP)
    • Body fluid analysis
    • Bone markers
    • Bone marrow biopsy
    • BRCA1 and BRCA2
    • C diff
    • CA 15-3
    • CA 19-9
    • CA-125
    • Caeruloplasmin
    • Calcitonin
      • Calcitonin References
    • Calcium
      • Calcium References
    • Calprotectin faeces
    • Carbamazepine
    • Cardiac risk assessment
    • Cardiolipin Ab
    • Catecholamines, plasma and urine
    • CBC
    • CBC, CBE, CBP
    • Cyclic citrullinated peptide Ab
    • CD4 count
    • Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)
    • Cervical screening test
    • CF gene mutation testing
    • Procalcitonin
    • Somatic Tumour Gene Testing
    • Varicella zoster virus
    • Chlamydia trachomatis
    • Chloride
    • Cholesterol
    • Cholinesterase
    • Chromogranin A
    • Chromosome Studies
    • CK-MB
    • Clostridium difficile
    • Cytomegalovirus
    • CO2
    • Coagulation cascade
    • Coagulation factors
    • Coeliac disease tests
    • Complement
    • Copper
    • Cortisol
    • C-peptide
    • C-reactive protein
    • Creatine kinase
    • Creatinine
    • Creatinine urine
    • Crossmatch
    • Cryoglobulin
    • Cerebrospinal fluid examination
    • Culture & sensitivity, urine
    • Cyclosporin
    • Cystatin C
    • D-dimer
    • Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS)
    • Diabetes-related autoantibodies
    • Differential - white blood cells
    • Digoxin
    • Direct antiglobulin test
    • Drugs of abuse screen
    • E/LFT
    • eGFR
    • EGFR Mutation Testing
    • Electrolytes
    • Electrophoresis
    • Extractable Nuclear Antigen Antibodies Panel
    • Epstein-Barr Virus Antibodies
    • Erythropoietin
    • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
    • Estrogen
    • Ethanol
    • EUC
    • Factor V Leiden and PT 20210 Mutation
    • Faecal Elastase
    • Occult blood faeces
    • FBC, FBE, FBP
    • Ferritin
    • fFN (fetal fibronectin)
    • Fibrinogen
    • FMR1 Mutations
    • Folate
    • Fragile X gene
    • Free Light Chains
    • Free T3
    • Free T4
    • Fructosamine
    • Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
    • Free triiodothyonine (FT3)
    • Free Thyroxine (FT4)
    • Full blood count
    • Fungal
    • Fungal Tests
    • Gamma glutamyltransferase
    • Gastrin
    • Genetic testing
    • Genome-wide Microarray testing
    • GGT
    • Glucose
    • Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase
    • GlycoMark
    • Gonorrhea
    • Neisseria gonorrhoeae
    • Gram Stain
    • Blood group antibody screen
    • Growth hormone
    • Haematocrit
    • Haemoglobin
    • Haemoglobin variants
    • Haptoglobin
    • HbA1c
    • hCG
    • HDL cholesterol
    • Helicobacter pylori
    • Hematocrit
    • Hemoglobin
    • Anti Xa levels
    • Hepatitis A virus
    • Hepatitis B virus
    • Hepatitis C virus
    • HER2
    • Herpes simplex virus 1 & 2
    • HFE Mutations
    • HIV antigen/antibody
    • HIV genotypic resistance
    • HIV viral load
    • HLA Testing
    • HLA-B27
    • HLAB5701 gene status
    • Home tests
    • Homocysteine
    • Hormone receptor status
    • Human papillomavirus
    • C-reactive protein high sensitivity
    • Human chorionic gonadotropin
    • IGF-1
    • Infectious mononucleosis screen
    • Immunoglobulins
    • Immunophenotyping
    • Immunoreactive trypsin
    • Influenza tests
    • Inhibin
    • INR
    • Insulin
    • Ionized calcium
    • iron
    • Iron studies
    • Iron
    • IRT
    • JAK2 mutation
    • Kidney Stone Analysis
    • Lactate
    • Lactate dehydrogenase (LD)
    • Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
    • LDL cholesterol
    • LDL cholesterol, direct
    • Lead
    • LFT
    • Luteinising hormone (LH)
    • Lipase
    • Lipids
    • Lipids
    • Lipoprotein electrophoresis
    • Lithium
    • Liver function tests
    • Liver panel
    • Lipoprotein (a)
    • Lupus anticoagulant
    • Lyme disease serology
    • Magnesium
    • Maternal screening
    • MCH
    • MCHC
    • MCV
    • Measles and Mumps tests
    • Mercury
    • Metanephrines
    • Microalbumin
    • Microarray test
    • Microsatellite instability (MSI)
    • MPL Mutation
    • Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening
    • MTHFR Mutation
    • Mycophenylate
    • Mycoplasma
    • Myoglobin
    • Nicotine / cotinine
    • NIPT - non-invasive prenatal testing
    • Ova, Cysts and Parasites
    • Oestradiol
    • Organic acids
    • Osmolality
    • Ova & parasites
    • HIV p24 Ag
    • pap
    • Pap smear
    • PAPP-A
    • Paracetamol
    • Parathyroid hormone
    • Parvovirus B19
    • PDGFRA-FIP1L1 gene rearrangement
    • Pericardial fluid analysis
    • Peritoneal fluid analysis
    • Bordetella pertussis
    • Pharmacogenomic Tests
    • Phenobarbital
    • Phenobarb
    • Phenytoin
    • Phosphate
    • Phosphorus
    • Plasma free metanephrine
    • Platelet count
    • Platelet function test
    • Pleural fluid analysis
    • PMP22 Gene
    • Porphyrins
    • Potassium
    • Prealbumin
    • Pregnancy test
    • Progesterone
    • Prolactin
    • Protein and immunofixation electrophoresis
    • Protein C and Protein S
    • Prothrombin time
    • Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
    • PSEN1
    • PT
    • PTH
    • RAS gene mutation
    • RAST
    • RBC
    • RDW
    • Red blood cell count
    • Red cell antibody screen
    • Red cell indices
    • Renin
    • RET Gene
    • Reticulocyte count
    • Rheumatoid factor
    • Rickettsial diseases testing
    • Ross River virus testing
    • RSV
    • Rubella virus test
    • Salicylate
    • Semen analysis
    • Serotonin whole blood
    • Mesothelin
    • Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG)
    • Sickle cell
    • Sirolimus
    • Smooth muscle Ab
    • SMRP
    • Sodium
    • Sputum Culture
    • Stool Culture
    • Strep throat testing
    • Susceptibility testing
    • Sweat chloride
    • Sweat Chloride Test
    • Synacthen Test
    • Synovial fluid
    • Syphilis serology
    • T3
    • T4
    • Table of coagulation factors
    • Tacrolimus
    • Tuberculosis screening tests
    • T-Cell Receptor Gene Rearrangement
      • More details on T-cells
    • Test Not Listed?
    • Testosterone
    • Therapeutic drug monitoring
    • Thyroglobulin
    • Thyroid antibodies
    • Thyroid function test
    • Transferrin and TIBC
    • TORCH test
    • Total protein
    • Toxoplasma gondii
    • tp
    • Thiopurine methyltransferase
    • Transferrin
    • Trichomonas vaginalis detection
    • Triglycerides (fasting or random)
    • Troponin (I or T)
    • Trypsin faeces
    • Trypsinogen
    • Tryptase
    • Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
    • Tumor markers
    • Tumour markers
    • U&E
    • Unvalidated tests
    • Urea
    • Uric acid
    • Urinalysis
    • Albumin/creatinine ratio urine
    • Urine culture
    • Urine M/C/S
    • Metanephrine urine 24h
    • Protein urine
    • Valproate
    • Vancomycin
    • VHL Gene Mutation
    • Vitamin B12 and folate
    • Vitamin D 25 OH
    • von Willebrand Factor
    • White blood cell count
    • Whole Genome or Whole Exome Testing For Childhood Syndromes
    • Zinc protoporphyrin
  • Conditions / diseases
    • Acidosis and alkalosis
    • Adrenal insufficiency and Addison's disease
    • Alcoholism
    • Allergies
    • Alzheimer's disease
    • Buruli or Bairnsdale ulcer, Mycobacterium ulcerans
    • Anaemia
    • Angina pectoris
    • Ankylosing spondylitis
    • Anthrax
    • Antiphospholipid Syndrome
    • Arthritis
    • Asthma
    • Autoimmune disorders
    • Barmah Forest virus
    • Benign prostatic hypertrophy
    • Bleeding disorders
    • Bone marrow disorders
    • Bowel cancer
    • Breast cancer
    • Cardiovascular disease (CVD)
    • Cervical cancer
    • Chlamydia
    • Chronic fatigue syndrome
    • Coeliac disease
    • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
    • Congestive heart failure
    • Conn's syndrome
    • COVID-19
    • Cushing's syndrome
    • Cystic fibrosis
    • Diabetes
    • Diarrhoea
    • Diseases of the pancreas
    • Down syndrome
    • Endocrine system and syndromes
    • Epilepsy
    • Fibromyalgia
    • Fragile X syndrome
    • Fungal Infections
    • Gallstones
    • Genetic conditions
    • Gonorrhoea
    • Gout
    • Graves' disease
    • Guillain-Barré syndrome
    • Haemochromatosis
    • Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
    • Heart attack
    • Heart disease
    • Hepatitis
    • Herpes
    • High blood pressure
    • HIV
    • HPV
    • HTLV
    • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
    • Huntington's disease
    • Hypercoagulable disorders
    • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
    • Hyperthyroidism
    • Hypothyroidism
    • Infertility
    • Inflammatory bowel diseases
    • Influenza
    • Insulin resistance
    • Jaundice
    • Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
    • Kidney and urinary tract: function, disorders and diseases
    • Lead poisoning
    • Leukaemia
    • Liver disease
    • Lung diseases
    • Lupus
    • Lyme disease
    • Lymphoma
    • Malabsorption
    • Malaria
    • Malnutrition
    • Medullary thyroid carcinoma
    • Meningitis and encephalitis
    • Menopause
    • Metabolic syndrome
    • Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndromes
    • Multiple myeloma
    • Multiple sclerosis
    • Myasthenia Gravis
    • Myeloproliferative neoplasms
    • Neural tube defects
    • Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Osteoporosis
    • Ovarian cancer
    • Pancreatic cancer
    • Pancreatic diseases
    • Pancreatic insufficiency
    • Pancreatitis
    • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
    • Peptic ulcer
    • Pituitary disorders
    • Polycystic ovarian syndrome
    • Porphyria
    • Pregnancy
    • Prostate cancer
    • Proteinuria
    • Q fever
    • Reactive arthritis
    • Reiter's syndrome
    • Rheumatoid arthritis
    • Rickettsial Diseases in Australia
    • Ross River fever
    • Progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS)
    • Sarcoidosis
    • Scleroderma
    • Sepsis
    • Septic arthritis
    • Sexually transmitted infections
    • Sickle cell anaemia
    • Sjogren
    • Sjogren Syndrome
    • Skin Cancer
    • SLE
    • Staph wound infections and MRSA
    • STIs or STDs
    • Stroke
    • Suxamethonium apnoea
    • Syphilis
    • Systemic lupus erythematosus
    • Testicular cancer
    • Thalassaemia
    • Thyroid diseases
    • Transgender Transition Testing
    • Travellers' Diseases
    • Trichomonas
    • Tuberculosis
    • Urinary tract infection (UTI)
    • Vasculitis
    • Viral hepatitis
    • Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency
    • West Nile virus
    • Wilson disease
    • Wound and skin infections
  • Health checks
    • Screening tests for newborns
    • Screening tests for infants
    • Screening tests for children
    • Screening tests for teens (ages 13-18)
    • Screening tests for young adults
    • Screening tests for adults
    • Screening tests for adults: 50 and over
    • Pregnancy & prenatal testing
  • Point-of-Care Testing (PoCT)
    • Point-of-Care Testing (PoCT)
  • Glossary
  • Video Library
• About us
  • About us
  • How to find what you’re looking for
  • Australian editorial group
  • Governance
  • Stakeholders
• Contact us