Conventionally diabetes mellitus has been diagnosed by high fasting or random blood glucose concentrations, or abnormal oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT). Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) has been used to monitor longer term glycaemic control in patients with known diabetes mellitus.
The following sample types should not be sent via the airtube system
To ensure that immediate attention is given to emergency requests, doctors must phone the laboratory to ensure that staff are aware of the priority. It is the responsibility of the requesting doctor to ensure the sample is sent to the Department.
For out of hours clinical advice (17:30 - 09:00), please contact switchboard and ask for the Duty Consultant Biochemist on-call. Consultant advice for immunology is also available via switchboard
An emergency service is provided for the following tests
All routine biochemistry including digoxin and osmolality (excluding cyclosporin and xanthochromia analysis)
Protein, Albumin, Bilirubin, ALT, ALP with GGT automatically reflex tested if ALP > 200
Sodium, Potassium, Urea, Creatinine