Pathology Services

Pathology services are clinical knowledge services. 

They provide diagnostic and consultative services to doctors (general practitioners and medical specialists) and their patients in hospitals, in primary care and to the wider community.  They do this through the scientific analysis of specimens of blood, fluids, tissue and other samples; interpretation and reporting of clinically meaningful results; and provision of expert medical opinion through consultation. 

Pathology testing is one part of the process of understanding disease in any person who comes to a doctor or other clinician with a problem.  Generally, the pathology test is initiated by a request from a patient’s doctor or clinician.  The pathology test begins with taking of the sample required to run the test.  The sample is taken to the laboratory where equipment, instruments and trained staff process, analyse, interpret and report the results of the test.  The report is provided to the requesting doctor to help decisions about the patient’s diagnosis or treatment. 

Pathology services support other clinicians by providing information to inform appropriate, timely diagnosis and management of a patient.