Pathology Laboratory Tests – Revealing The State Of Your Health

Contents hide

1 Why Pathology Tests Are Important?

2 Specialisations In Pathology Tests

3 Why Would You Need A Pathology Test?

4 Common Blood Pathology Tests

4.1 A full blood count

4.2 Iron studies

4.3 Liver function test

4.4 Thyroid stimulating hormone quantification

4.5 Urinalysis

4.6 INR (International normalised ratio)

5 What To Expect If You Are Having A Blood Test?

6 What To Expect If You Are Giving A Urine Or Stool Sample?

7 Reading And Interpreting Your Pathology Test

7.1 References

Pathology tests can help your healthcare practitioner to get an overall picture of your state of health. Pathology is the study of disease, its causes and how it progresses. A pathology test is a test to analyse samples of your tissue, including blood, urine and faeces. The results are used to help your healthcare practitioner or GP to make diagnoses about your health. Let’s take a look at why pathology laboratory tests are so important and what they can reveal about your state of health.

Why Pathology Tests Are Important?

The results of pathology laboratory tests can be used by doctors, nurses and other healthcare practitioners to diagnose and manage health conditions. They can be used in the management of chronic diseases, infectious diseases and even cancer.

It is a good idea to have an open discussion about any tests your doctor orders so you know what to expect. Some conversation points to consider include

Why the doctor has chosen specific tests for you
What you should do before, during or after the pathology test
What the outcomes or results could indicate for you in terms of treatment
Whether abnormal results are relevant
If you would need any follow up tests afterwards

Specialisations In Pathology Tests

There are nine different levels of specialty within pathology laboratory tests:

General pathology: which is concerned all aspects of laboratory investigation of disease
Haematology: for the study of blood disorders
Chemical pathology: to analyse the chemicals in blood and other bodily fluids
Genetic pathology: to study genetic disease
Medical microbiology: for investigations into conditions that have been caused by viruses, parasites, bacteria and fungi
Anatomical microbiology: to study disease in human tissue
Immunopathology: which investigates immune response to a disease
Forensic pathology: to determine the cause of death
Clinical pathology: which investigates disease through laboratory testing.

Why Would You Need A Pathology Test?

In addition to detecting and treating disease, pathology laboratory tests can be used to

Monitor the progression of a disease
Prevent disease
Determine an individual’s risk of future disease
Assist in the development of new treatments or to make treatments safer

If your general practitioner sends you for a pathology test, it is likely to be because there is a concern about your health or because you are at an age where you may be more susceptible to certain diseases or illnesses.

Pathology tests may help with

Screening patients before they may be aware that they have a disease, or if there is a genetic predisposition to a particular condition.
Investigating health risks such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or heart disease. Prior to this, your doctor may do an analysis of your risk profile.
Illness diagnosis may be required if you are exhibiting symptoms and your doctor wants confirmation.
Providing prognosis in cases where patients have a disease.
A pathology test may also be ordered when your doctor is preparing you for treatment, or to see how your body is responding to a certain treatment.

Common Blood Pathology Tests

Some of the most commonly requested blood pathology tests include

A full blood count

A full blood count can diagnose a wide range of diseases and illnesses.

Iron studies

Iron studies are conducted to assess red blood cell function and the level of iron present in the blood.

Liver function test

A liver function tests measures the enzymes and excretions produced by the liver.

Thyroid stimulating hormone quantification

The TSH test is done to measure how your thyroid is functioning

Urinalysis

Urinalysis diagnoses a wide range of diseases, including those affecting the kidneys and liver. It is also done regularly for pregnant women and to diagnose UTIs.

INR (International normalised ratio)

An INR is conducted to assess how your blood clots

What To Expect If You Are Having A Blood Test?

importance pathology lab tests chatswood You will be asked to lie down or sit while your sample is collected.

A tourniquet will be tied around your arm to increase blood volume before the area to be injected is sterilised.

A needle will be inserted into your vein to draw the blood sample.

You will be given some cotton gauze to hold against the injection site to curb the bleeding.

What To Expect If You Are Giving A Urine Or Stool Sample?

Urine samples may be collected at home or at your doctor’s rooms. If your doctor asks for midstream urine, they would like you to collect the urine that comes out in the middle of the flow.

Stool samples are usually collected in your own home. It’s a good idea to urinate first. Make sure you do not collect toilet bowl water with your sample, and that the sample does not come into contact with the toilet bowl.

Reading And Interpreting Your Pathology Test

Your doctor is the best person to interpret the results of your pathology tests. Remember that, even if the laboratory has marked the results as abnormal, this doesn’t necessarily indicate the presence of a problem. Often healthcare practitioners will request that lab test results are sent directly to them so as not to alarm patients.

For more information on pathology laboratory tests please contact us for an appointment: (02) 9884 9300.