Patient Information
Histopathology
Your doctor refers a tissue specimen to us for histopathological examination. These specimens are removed at the time of surgery or during a biopsy procedure. The specimen is picked up by our courier service and delivered to the laboratory. In the laboratory the sample is processed, and then examined by one of our specialist histopathologist who issues a written report to your doctor.
Cytology
The practice provides a comprehensive cytology service with the ability to examine a wide range of specimens. The two most commonly requested tests are cervical cytology (the cervical smear) and fine needle aspiration cytology.
The cervical smear can be associated with a Thinprep vial. Currently our laboratory performs the cytological examination of the Thinprep specimen free of charge.
Your doctor may send you to our practice for a fine needle aspiration (FNA) of a palpable lump. The test involves placing a fine needle into the lump and sampling cells, which are then smeared onto a slide and examined by one of our pathologists. If the lump is not easily palpable, your doctor will send you to a radiology practice, where one of our pathologists will be called in to attend the procedure and evaluate the specimen on site.
For further information regarding our fine needle aspiration service, please click here.
Clinical Pathology
The laboratory performs tests in the following subspecialties, haematology, serology, immunology, microbiology, biochemistry, endocrinology and molecular biology and there is a specialist pathologist who supervises each discipline. The specimens most commonly examined in the laboratory are blood, urine and faeces. The pathologists and the laboratory scientists perform the analyses and examinations and a report is issued.
Fee Structure
Histopathology And Cytopathology
The fee for the service varies depending on the type specimen. If you are a patient in a private hospital with private health insurance, you will most likely not receive an account, this is because our practice has agreements with the major health funds, which allows for a simplified billing process. If you are a private outpatient or are self-insured in a private hospital the practice will send an account directly to you and there will be a gap payable.
For more information regarding histopathology and cytopathology billing, click here.
Clinical Pathology
There are numerous different tests in each of the clinical pathology disciplines. Each of these has an item number, which corresponds to a schedule fee, which is set by Medicare. Adelaide pathology partners charges 110% of the schedule fee.
As with histology and cytology if you are a patient within a private hospital with health insurance you will most likely not receive an account as we have agreements with most major health funds.
If you are a private out patient Medicare will pay 85% of the scheduled fee an there will be a gap payable for the remainder.
If you are self insured in a private hospital Medicare will pay 75% of the scheduled fee and there will be a gap payable for the remainder.
We will bill all DVA patients directly to the department of veteran affairs.