Understanding pathology tests

Find out what pathology tests are used for, the different types of tests, why they are important, how to prepare for them, and what the results mean.

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Paying for diagnostic testing

Diagnostic tests, such as pathology tests and imaging scans, can be expensive. Learn more here about the costs and what Medicare covers.

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Quick read: What to do if you have COVID

If you have no symptoms or mild symptoms, these are the steps you need to take and what you should do when you test positive to COVID.

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Quick read: When and how to get a test

You should get tested if you have any COVID-19 symptoms, even if they’re mild. Here's what you need to know about PCR tests and rapid antigen tests (RATs).

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COVID-19 testing

Learn about COVID-19 testing, including when to get tested, what test you should use and what to do if you test positive to COVID-19.

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HbA1c test

Find out about the HbA1c test — a type of blood test used to help diagnose diabetes and monitor blood sugar control in people with diabetes.

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Lumbar puncture

Lumbar puncture involves putting a needle into the lower back to diagnose and sometimes treat problems of the brain and spinal cord.

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Vitamin D test

Vitamin D is important for bone health. A vitamin D blood test checks the level of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D in your blood – find out more here.

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Thyroid function tests

A thyroid function blood test is used to check your thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4), and triiodothyronine (T3) blood levels.

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Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) blood test

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a blood test that can check for inflammation in your body. Find out more about ESR blood tests here.

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Liver function tests

Liver function tests are blood tests that can check how your liver is working. Find out what LFTs test for and what your results may mean

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Prostate specific antigen (PSA) test

A prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test can be used to test for prostate cancer. It can also be used to monitor prostate cancer

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Vitamin B12 test

Find out why you might need a Vitamin B12 blood test. Vitamin B12 is also called cobalamin or VitB12. Vitamin B12 can be low in vegetarians.

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hCG test

The human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) test is usually used to confirm or monitor a pregnancy. It can be a blood or a urine test. Learn more here.

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Troponin blood test

Troponin blood tests can help work out if your heart muscle is damaged due to a heart attack. Read about troponin blood tests and when they are used.

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Testosterone blood test

A testosterone blood test can show us how much of the sex hormone testosterone is in your body. Males usually have more testosterone than females.

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Cholesterol and lipid tests

Read about cholesterol (or lipid profile) blood tests, which look at cholesterol and other fats in your blood, and what the results mean.

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Folate blood test

Folate is an important nutrient for making red blood cells. The folate blood test checks whether you have enough folate in your blood.

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Oestrogen blood test

Oestrogen blood tests help us to understand hormone balance. Read more if you are planning pregnancy, are pregnant or your menstrual cycle is unusual.

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D-dimer test

The D-dimer test is a blood test that checks for, or monitors, blood-clotting problems. Find out what a positive result means for you.

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Full blood count (FBC)

A full blood count is a common blood test for general health, which can also provide information about a range of conditions.

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Calcium blood test

A calcium test indicates how much calcium is in your blood. Find out how this test helps doctors diagnose or monitor and treat your illness.

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Blood glucose test

Blood glucose tests (blood sugar tests) are used to diagnose and monitor diabetes. Find out how to prepare for this test and what your results mean.

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International normalised ratio (INR) test

The international normalised ratio (INR) test is a measure of the time taken for your blood to clot. Find out more about this test and what it means.

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Bulk billing for medical services

Bulk billing is when your doctor bills Medicare directly and accepts the Medicare benefit as full payment for their service.

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Transbronchial biopsy

A transbronchial biopsy is usually a safe and effective way of finding out if there is a problem in your lungs.

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Tests used in diagnosing dementia

Doctors diagnose dementia using a number of different tests, including physical and neurological examination, cognitive tests, X - Rays and scans.

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How do I pay for healthcare?

The Australian Government helps to keep down the cost of healthcare for most people who live here. This article covers the most common questions about how to pay for your healthcare.

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Guide to blood testing

Find out all about blood tests, including where to get a blood test in Australia, what happens when you have a blood test, and how long it takes.

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Testing times for HIV

While new notifications of HIV have generally stabilised, rates have increased among heterosexual people and indigenous people. Here's how to get tested for, and prevent, HIV.

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