Labour day
All of our collection centres will be closed on Labour day (Monday 28 October), and they will reopen with normal operating hours on Tuesday 29 October. Enjoy your long weekend and travel safely if you are heading away.
Patient results delivery improvement
Awanui Labs is improving the delivery of patient results directly to referrers using Medtech Evolution across New Zealand. From 30 September, referrers who are using the Medtech Evolution system, can electronically receive their patient’s test results including blood, urine, histology and cytology results in real time as they are reported by the laboratories. Awanui Labs […]
Removing AST from liver function panels
In many New Zealand Laboratories AST is no longer part of the liver function panel. To harmonise liver function testing (LFT) across all Awanui labs, from 1 November 2024 AST will no longer form part of the standard liver function test panel. However, AST will still be able to be requested separately as either a […]
Merging of duplicate requests
Awanui Labs has recently made an operational change to how we handle duplicate test requests and what this change may mean for you. Awanui Labs experiences a high degree of multiple requests for the same patients, a significant number of these requests are from different doctors within the same clinic. Currently when the patient presents […]
HIV screening in first antenatal blood screen
When the National Screening Unit implemented universal antenatal HIV screening in NZ in 2008, a decision was made in Canterbury to only include HIV testing if specifically requested; this historical decision has been reviewed. From 12 August 2024 an HIV test will automatically be included on all first antenatal blood screen requests unless it is […]
Diagnosis of Coeliac Disease
Coeliac disease is an immunological intestinal reaction to gluten in cereal causing the cells lining the small, intestine bowel to become damaged and inflamed. This is often found in people who are genetically predisposed to this condition. Coeliac disease in New ZealandAccording to international research, approximately 100,000 people across New Zealand have some form of coeliac […]
Changes to vitamin B12 and folate
Rates of B12 testing are very high, often for no clear reason, and growth is unsustainable. There is a high frequency of repeat testing within 12 months, with little evidence of clinical benefit. Over testing of B12 is a local and worldwide phenomenon and is increasing far beyond demographic factors (e.g. population growth, migration, age) […]
ANZAC day
Our collection centres will be closed on Thursday 25 April for the ANZAC day public holiday, reopening on Friday 26 April (with two exceptions – see below). Please note: New Brighton and Kaiapoi collection centres will remain closed on Friday 26 April.
Easter Weekend
Please note that all Awanui Labs collection centres are closed on Good Friday (29 March) and Easter Monday (1 April). Collection centres that normally open on Saturdays will be open on the weekend.
FNA Booking System
Our FNA clinic is open Wednesday to Friday by appointment only at Northfield Collection Centre, 60 Langdons Road, Papanui, Christchurch. To book an appointment please email the referral form and contact details to canhisto@awanuilabs.co.nz. We will then contact the patient to arrange an appointment. Please call 03 360 0870 with any questions or if you are […]