To get a blood test you need to:

1. See a doctor to get a request form
2. Come to our collection centre to have your sample taken
3. Return to your doctor to get your results

• A fasting blood test is a test where the results can be heavily impacted by your diet.
  If your doctor asks you to fast for a test it means they want to know about your results on an empty stomach.
• This means you are not allowed to eat or drink anything except for water for 8-12 hours before your test.
• If your test, your Dr, or your form says N.B.M or Nil By Mouth, then your fasting instructions will be different. There may be restrictions on your food, water, medication, brushing teeth, smoking and more.
• Please consult your doctor if you are unsure.

Generally speaking you can continue to take your medication as per usual leading up to your tests, however some tests do require that you withhold medication.

Usually tests that require the medication to be withheld will be testing that medication itself.

If you are not sure what to do with regard to your medication, you should seek advice from your Doctor.

Turn around times vary depending on the tests requested and the testing procedures, but the information below can be used as a general guide:

• Most blood test results will be available the same day the blood is taken.
• Tests for bacterial culture and some viral tests may take 2-3 days to process.
• Tests for fungal culture and some serologies can take 4-8 weeks due to the slow growing nature of the organisms.

4Cyte is a bulk billing pathology company – so it is very unlikely that you will get a bill.
If you are having a test that medicare or your health fund do not cover, you will be notified before the test is collected, so there will never be a surprise bill.

You are entitled to get a copy of your results. In order to protect your privacy, we don’t release results to patients over the phone, but if you want a copy of your result you can ask your doctor to add your name in the “Copy To” section on your request form.

If your blood has already been collected, you can still obtain your results by requesting a copy in writing with your signature on the request. As a measure of privacy protection for you, your results will only be sent to your address as it is listed on the request form, and only if the signature on your letter matches your signature on your request form.

Yes. It is entirely your choice as a patient to go to any pathology collection centre you choose. You can bring any request form to our collection centre and our helpful team will take care of the rest.

It depends on which test you are having. If you are unsure, it is best to ask your doctor.

Your stool sample can be stored overnight if necessary. If you are doing this, it is important to ensure that:

• Screw the lid on tightly.
• Place the sample jar in a sealed bag.
• Place the sealed bag inside the specimen bag.
• Keep the whole package refrigerated.

After your sample is collected it will be picked up by one of our couriers and brought back to the lab for processing.

Once the tests are complete your sample will be stored in our lab for approximately 7 days from the date of collection incase your doctor asks for any more tests to be done on it.
Once the storage time has elapsed or your sample has expired it will be destroyed and discarded.