{"id":895,"date":"2020-07-08T10:19:23","date_gmt":"2020-07-07T22:19:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.awanuilabs.co.nz\/south\/otagosouthland\/?page_id=895"},"modified":"2026-03-05T14:26:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T01:26:11","slug":"specimen-collection","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.awanuilabs.co.nz\/south\/otagosouthland\/referrers\/specimen-collection\/","title":{"rendered":"Sample collection and test guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-atomic-blocks-ab-accordion ab-block-accordion\"><details><summary class=\"ab-accordion-title\">Blood collection information<\/summary><div class=\"ab-accordion-text\">\n<p>Click here to download or view the recommended <a href=\"https:\/\/fl-healthscope-media.s3.amazonaws.com\/lab-sites\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/03\/Awanui-Labs-Order-of-Draw.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Order of draw<\/a> for blood collection.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-atomic-blocks-ab-accordion ab-block-accordion\"><details><summary class=\"ab-accordion-title\">Blood cultures<\/summary><div class=\"ab-accordion-text\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fl-healthscope-media.s3.amazonaws.com\/lab-sites\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/02\/blood-culture-collection-wingetset-poster-provided-by-biomerieux.pdf\">Blood culture collection<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fl-healthscope-media.s3.amazonaws.com\/lab-sites\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/02\/Blood-cultures-recommendation-NZMN-FINAL.pdf\">Blood culture recommendations<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-atomic-blocks-ab-accordion ab-block-accordion\"><details><summary class=\"ab-accordion-title\">How to store specimens<\/summary><div class=\"ab-accordion-text\">\n<p>If a sample is not dispatched to the laboratory on the day of collection, please store as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Store these specimens in the fridge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>All urines for microbiology and cytology<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Faeces specimens for microbiology<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Viral swabs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sputum for microbiology and cytology<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Store these specimens at room temperature<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Bacterial amies swabs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Aspirates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chlamydia swabs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chlamydia urines<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Blood specimens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Blood specimens should not be stored overnight.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-atomic-blocks-ab-accordion ab-block-accordion\"><details><summary class=\"ab-accordion-title\">Mycology Collection Guidelines<\/summary><div class=\"ab-accordion-text\">\n<p>To support accurate testing and ensure an efficient experience for your patients, please note the following guidelines:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bookings<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Bookings are preferred so we can ensure experienced staff are available.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Patients can book online via the <strong>Awanui Labs website<\/strong> or through our call centre.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pre-Collection Requirements<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>No antifungal creams or ointments for <strong>72 hours<\/strong> prior to collection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No oral antifungal medications for <strong>6 weeks<\/strong> prior to collection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Please ensure nail polish is removed prior to nail clipping collections.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Collection Limitations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Groin or genital scrapings cannot be performed at Awanui collection centres.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Please <strong>perform these at the time of consultation<\/strong>, otherwise patients will be referred to the referrer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-atomic-blocks-ab-accordion ab-block-accordion\"><details><summary class=\"ab-accordion-title\">Oncology ancillary tests and biomarkers<\/summary><div class=\"ab-accordion-text\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fl-healthscope-media.s3.amazonaws.com\/lab-sites\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/02\/Awanui-Biomarker-Information-2026.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Awanui biomarker information<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fl-healthscope-media.s3.amazonaws.com\/lab-sites\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/05\/Awanui-Biomarker-Patient-Consent-and-Payment-Form.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Awanui biomarker patient consent &amp; payment form<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fl-healthscope-media.s3.amazonaws.com\/lab-sites\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/02\/Awanui-Biomarker-Request-Form-March-2026.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Awanui biomarker request form<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-atomic-blocks-ab-accordion ab-block-accordion\"><details><summary class=\"ab-accordion-title\">Sample labelling criteria<\/summary><div class=\"ab-accordion-text\">\n<p>Samples will be&nbsp;<strong>discarded<\/strong>&nbsp;if they do not meet our labelling criteria. A&nbsp;minimum of two points of identification (e.g.&nbsp;<strong>full name<\/strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>NHI<\/strong>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<strong>DOB<\/strong>) are required on all specimens and forms to meet regulatory requirements.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-atomic-blocks-ab-accordion ab-block-accordion\"><details><summary class=\"ab-accordion-title\">Swab guides<\/summary><div class=\"ab-accordion-text\">\n<p>For more information on swab collection please see our guides below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fl-healthscope-media.s3.amazonaws.com\/lab-sites\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/09\/Swab-ID-guide-Awanui-19.9.24.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Which swab?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fl-healthscope-media.s3.amazonaws.com\/lab-sites\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2021\/09\/Nasopharyngeal-Swab-Collection.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to take a nasopharyngeal swab<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-atomic-blocks-ab-accordion ab-block-accordion\"><details><summary class=\"ab-accordion-title\">Test guide<\/summary><div class=\"ab-accordion-text\">\n<p>We have created a new, searchable guide to laboratory tests in the Otago\/Southland region. <a href=\"https:\/\/scg.labapps.nz\/#\/OTG\/\">Click the here<\/a> to access this test guide.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"parent":47,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-left-sidebar.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Sample collection and test guide &#8212; 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