Frequently asked questions

For continuity of care, you should see your General Practitioner to obtain a Pathology Referral. 

You can then visit any one of our convenient COVID-19 Collection Centres.

Results are delivered by SMS usually within 24 hours of your sample arriving in the laboratory.

There is no charge for qualifying Medicare card holders. Please speak to our collection staff If you do not qualify or are not covered by Medicare.

Yes. QML Pathology will perform all testing regardless of what pathology company your request is from. If your health care provider has asked that a particular pathologist conduct the tests, then we will forward your collection to the requested pathologist.

Fasting is when you consume no food or drinks, with the exception of water, for a set period of time. Refer to the fasting patient information for further details.
If you have not been advised by your doctor to fast, then fasting prior to your testing is not required.

Appointments are not required for standard tests.
Some specialty tests do require an appointment and are only performed at select collection centres. To find a collection centre which performs these tests, please use the collection centre search and choose the test you require from the “Any Test” drop down menu. Please contact the collection centre prior to attending to book an appointment time.

Make sure you drink plenty of water prior to your pathology testing – unless your GP has given you a reason not to. This will make it easier for our team member to conduct your blood test.
For children it may help to bring something such as a special toy or book to distract them while the collection occurs.
Further test specific pre-test collection information is provided in our Preparing For Your Test section.

It is best that you attend a consultation with your doctor to discuss your test results as even “normal” test results may require further medical investigation.
If required, or you are unable to receive results via the My Health Record system, you can request a copy of your pathology results from us by completing the online application form. This service incurs an administration fee that must be paid at time of lodging the request.

QML Pathology offers a limited range of self-requested pathology. Visit our FAQs on self-request testing.

We accept all brands of pathology request forms. You’ll need to bring your pathology request form as completed by your doctor, and a valid Medicare card if you have one. If you have a Veterans Affairs Card, you should bring that. You should also bring a list of any current medication you’re taking. You’ll need to show photo ID if you’re having tests for the following purposes: immigration, occupational testing, parentage DNA, insurance or drug screening, or any court-ordered testing.

You can find operating hours for all our testing locations on our location search page.

Routine pathology is generally processed within 48 hours of collection, however, specialised testing can take several days. Speak with your doctor for more details prior to your test.

QML Pathology will bulk bill all pathology tests covered under the Medicare Benefits Schedule, however, there a number of occasions where a payment will be required at the time of collection or post-testing. For more information visit Billing & Payments.

Yes. Pathology request forms can be used up to 12 months from referral.

Usually not, however, this may depend on the type of test you’re having. You should not stop any of your medication unless your doctor has told you to do so. Please bring a list of all your current medications (including dosing) to your collection as you will need to disclose this to the collection staff member.
QML Pathology offers a home specimen collection service for patients who, due to the nature of their medical condition and/or immobility, are unable to attend a patient pathology collection centre. This service can only be requested by your medical practitioner.

Our Holter/ABP/ECG page contains information about how to access these services.

Pathology is the medical specialty concerned with the study of the nature and causes of diseases. It underpins every aspect of medicine, from diagnostic testing and monitoring of chronic diseases to cutting-edge genetic technologies. Pathology testing of patient samples is integral to over 70% of all decisions made in health care.

Pathologists are specialist medical practitioners who study the cause of disease and the ways in which diseases affect our bodies by examining changes in tissue, blood and other body fluids. The doctors you see in a surgery or at a clinic all depend on the knowledge, diagnostic skills and advice of pathologists. Pathologists, scientists, blood collectors and support staff work as part of a medical laboratory team. They work together to collect your specimen, transport your specimen to the medical laboratory, perform testing and interpretation, and report back the medical findings and test results to your doctor to assist with your medical care.

We are one of Australia’s leading specialist medical laboratory and pathology providers offering a full range of diagnostic testing and information services. 

Our medical laboratory testing services include: 

  • blood tests 
  • body fluid testing 
  • tissue pathology such as skin cancer analysis 
  • cytology such as cervical screening 
  • health screening and monitoring tests 
  • drug screening and testing
  • gene-based testing (genetic testing) 

 

QML Pathology performs medical tests and analysis that aid your doctor in the diagnosis or detection of diseases, and measure the progress or recovery from a disease. 

Your visit to us included some tests that are not able to be Bulk Billed or may incur an out-of-pocket fee. As we have your mobile phone number on file we sent you an SMS message with a secure link to an invoice that you can view online. Please note: If you were provided with an indication of the cost at the time of collection this is a guide only as we are not able to provide a final price prior to assessment by Medicare or your private health fund (if applicable).

As part of a leading healthcare company, QML Pathology recognises that we have a duty of care to protect both the public and our people, particularly vulnerable people, those at higher risk of more serious illness or who are unable to be vaccinated themselves. 
 
To help keep our people, patients and communities safe, in addition to adhering to relevant public health orders, our parent company Healius has introduced a mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy across its business, including QML Pathology. This policy covers all our people working for QML Pathology .
 
Our vaccination policy is in addition to a number of other COVID-19 safety measures we have put in place to ensure the health and wellbeing of our people and patients, including the use of personal protective equipment, such as masks and gowns, and enhanced cleaning of our facilities.

No, as a condition of entry to our collection centres filming on mobile phones or other devices is not permitted for the privacy of both staff and patients.

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