News
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 […]
Changes to testosterone requests
In order to clarify and harmonise ordering of testosterone requests across Awanui Labs, a change to the number of testosterone request options will be effective from 17 September 2024. These changes will have no impact on clinical management of patients but will make testosterone ordering simpler. The current multiple different total testosterone request options will […]
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 […]
South City collection centre closure
Awanui Labs has received approval from the Clinical Operations Advisory Group (COAG) to permanently close the South City, Invercargill collection centre. This decision will allow us to concentrate on ensuring that our remaining collection centres operate in a safe, efficient, and sustainable manner. The South City centre will close permanently from Monday July 22, 2024. […]
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 […]
Matariki weekend
Our collection centres will all be closed on Friday 28 June for the Matariki public holiday.
King’s birthday weekend
All of our collection centres will be closed on Monday June 3 for the King’s birthday public holiday.
ANZAC day closures
Our collection centres will be closed on Thursday 25 April for the ANZAC day public holiday.
Oamaru area blood bank
After careful consideration and review, both the New Zealand Blood Service and Awanui Laboratories have collaborated to ensure patient safety whilst minimising blood component and product wastage in the region. As a result, effective from Monday 29April 2024, Oamaru Hospital Laboratory will transition to an emergency O-negative bank only. All non-urgent and planned transfusion testing […]
ANCA: Indications for testing
View the table of Indication for ANCA testing and clinical definitions here.