Urgent Testing (Including After Hours and Public Holidays)

A 24/7 urgent testing service is offered by VIDRL to inform public health decisions for emerging infectious diseases or public health notifiable conditions. The ability to perform urgent testing will be determined by the on-call pathologist depending on circumstances and availability of suitably qualified staff.

Urgent requests during business hours
For within business hours testing for public health notifiable high suspicion cases, requests for testing should be discussed with the VIDRL registrar via +61 3 9342 9379. Please note, some pathogens require Department of Health approval to be tested; if applicable this should be obtained prior to contacting VIDRL Approval Conditions

Urgent requests after-hours
All requests for after-hours testing for public health notifiable conditions require approval from both the Department of Health and the VIDRL on-call pathologist. To obtain approval for urgent after-hours testing for public health notifiable conditions, notify the Local Public Health Unit on suspicion and discuss testing Approval Conditions

The Local Public Health Unit will seek approval from the Department of Health for after-hours testing. If approved, the Department of Health will contact VIDRL.

For samples approved for after-hours testing, the specimen is to be deposited in the specimen delivery box located on the Grattan Street side of the Doherty Institute
Specimen Deliveries
Please ensure that any containers have clear labelling addressed to VIDRL.

To ensure timely testing and result notification for all urgent testing requests, the following details should be provided:
– Test requested, sample type, location sampled (if applicable)
– Local Public Health Unit and direct contact (for public health notifiable conditions)
– Department of Health PHESS ID (mandatory for after-hours public health notifiable condition testing)
– Requesting clinician and direct contact
– Referring laboratory details including phone and fax numbers (if applicable)

Contacts

VIDRL Specimen Reception
T +61 3 9342 9662