Pathology Tests Explained
AACB testing for health
  • Home
  • Tests
  • Conditions
  • Health Screenings
  • Understanding your tests
  • Inside the lab
  • Test information
  • About us

Sitemap

Was this page helpful?

Search

Find an explanation of your pathology test


  • Understanding your tests
    • Understanding your tests
    • Reference Intervals - an Overview
    • Reading your results
    • How samples are collected
    • What to expect when having a blood test
    • Looking for your results?
    • Coping with discomfort and anxiety
    • Why identification is important
    • How reliable are pathology tests
      • Accuracy, precision, specificity & sensitivity
      • Quality
      • Reference Intervals and what they mean
      • Laboratory accreditation - the basis for confidence in your result
      • Role of testing
      • Validation, use and interpretation of pathology tests
    • How can you be sure information is trustworthy?
      • Safe web searching
      • Misleading or inappropriate tests
    • Choosing Wisely Australia
    • Radiology
  • Inside the lab
    • Inside the lab
    • Follow a sample
      • Blood sample
      • Throat culture
    • Laboratory methods
    • People in labs
      • Pathologists
      • Scientists
    • Pathology disciplines
    • Anatomical pathology
      • Histopathology
      • Tissue preparation
      • Techniques
      • Frozen sections
      • Cytopathology
      • Pathologists
      • Related pages
      • Sources
    • Genetic testing
      • Clinical genetic testing
      • Cytogenetics
      • Online DNA tests
      • Pharmacogenomics
      • Tissue typing for transplantation
      • Infectious disease testing
      • Identity testing
      • Parentage testing
      • Pros and cons
      • Epigenetics
      • The future
      • Biochemical genetic testing
      • Related links
    • Blood banking
      • Donating blood
      • Protecting supply
      • Ensuring proper use
      • Patient identification
      • Risks
      • Related links
  • Test information
    • Tests
      • 1,5-AG
      • 1,5-anhydroglucitol
      • 17-Hydroxyprogesterone
      • 5HIAA urine
      • Angiotensin converting enzyme
      • Acetylcholine receptor Ab
      • ACTH
      • AFB
      • Acid fast bacilli culture
      • Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)
      • Albumin
      • Aldosterone and renin
      • ALK Mutation (Gene Rearrangement)
      • COVID-19
      • Emergency and Overdose Drug Testing
      • Hereditable Pathogenic Variants in Colorectal and Endometrial Cancer
      • Immunoglobulin E total
      • Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
      • Alpha-1-antitrypsin
      • Alpha-gal antibody
      • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
      • Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) genetic testing
      • Kidney function tests
      • Mitochondria Ab
      • AMAS
      • Amino acids
      • Ammonia
      • Amylase
      • Antinuclear Ab
      • ANCA/MPO/PR3 Antibodies
      • Antenatal group and screen
      • Anti-beta2 glycoprotein 1
      • Antibody identification
      • Centromere Ab
      • double stranded DNA Ab
      • Anti-Mullerian Hormone
      • Antiphospholipid antibodies
      • Antistreptolysin O Titre
      • Antithrombin
      • Apolipoprotein A-I
      • Apolipoprotein B
      • Apolipoprotein E genotyping
      • Activated partial thromboplastin time
      • Arbovirus Testing
      • ASOT
      • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
      • AST
      • Autoantibodies
      • B12
      • Bacterial Wound Culture
      • B-cell Immunoglobulin Gene Rearrangement
        • More details on B-cells
      • BCR-ABL1
      • Beta-2 glycoprotein 1 Antibodies
      • Beta-2-microglobulin
      • Beta-2-transferrin
      • Bicarbonate
      • Bilirubin
      • Blood culture
      • Blood film examination
      • Blood gases
      • Blood group
      • BRAF V600 Mutation
      • Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP or NT-proBNP)
      • Body fluid analysis
      • Bone markers
      • Bone marrow biopsy
      • BRCA1 and BRCA2
      • C diff
      • CA 15-3
      • CA 19-9
      • CA-125
      • Caeruloplasmin
      • Calcitonin
        • Calcitonin References
      • Calcium
        • Calcium References
      • Calprotectin faeces
      • Carbamazepine
      • Cardiac risk assessment
      • Cardiolipin Ab
      • Catecholamines, plasma and urine
      • CBC
      • CBC, CBE, CBP
      • Cyclic citrullinated peptide Ab
      • CD4 count
      • Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)
      • Cervical screening test
      • CF gene mutation testing
      • Procalcitonin
      • Somatic Tumour Gene Testing
      • Varicella zoster virus
      • Chlamydia trachomatis
      • Chloride
      • Cholesterol
      • Cholinesterase
      • Chromogranin A
      • Chromosome Studies
      • CK-MB
      • Clostridium difficile
      • Cytomegalovirus
      • CO2
      • Coagulation cascade
      • Coagulation factors
      • Coeliac disease tests
      • Complement
      • Copper
      • Cortisol
      • C-peptide
      • C-reactive protein
      • Creatine kinase
      • Creatinine
      • Creatinine urine
      • Crossmatch
      • Cryoglobulin
      • Cerebrospinal fluid examination
      • Culture & sensitivity, urine
      • Cyclosporin
      • Cystatin C
      • D-dimer
      • Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS)
      • Diabetes-related autoantibodies
      • Differential - white blood cells
      • Digoxin
      • Direct antiglobulin test
      • Drugs of abuse screen
      • E/LFT
      • eGFR
      • EGFR Mutation Testing
      • Electrolytes
      • Electrophoresis
      • Extractable Nuclear Antigen Antibodies Panel
      • Epstein-Barr Virus Antibodies
      • Erythropoietin
      • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
      • Estrogen
      • Ethanol
      • EUC
      • Factor V Leiden and PT 20210 Mutation
      • Faecal Elastase
      • Occult blood faeces
      • FBC, FBE, FBP
      • Ferritin
      • fFN (fetal fibronectin)
      • Fibrinogen
      • FMR1 Mutations
      • Folate
      • Fragile X gene
      • Free Light Chains
      • Free T3
      • Free T4
      • Fructosamine
      • Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
      • Free triiodothyonine (FT3)
      • Free Thyroxine (FT4)
      • Full blood count
      • Fungal
      • Fungal Tests
      • Gamma glutamyltransferase
      • Gastrin
      • Genetic testing
      • Genome-wide Microarray testing
      • GGT
      • Glucose
      • Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase
      • GlycoMark
      • Gonorrhea
      • Neisseria gonorrhoeae
      • Gram Stain
      • Blood group antibody screen
      • Growth hormone
      • Haematocrit
      • Haemoglobin
      • Haemoglobin variants
      • Haptoglobin
      • HbA1c
      • hCG
      • HDL cholesterol
      • Helicobacter pylori
      • Hematocrit
      • Hemoglobin
      • Anti Xa levels
      • Hepatitis A virus
      • Hepatitis B virus
      • Hepatitis C virus
      • HER2
      • Herpes simplex virus 1 & 2
      • HFE Mutations
      • HIV antigen/antibody
      • HIV genotypic resistance
      • HIV viral load
      • HLA Testing
      • HLA-B27
      • HLAB5701 gene status
      • Home tests
      • Homocysteine
      • Hormone receptor status
      • Human papillomavirus
      • C-reactive protein high sensitivity
      • Human chorionic gonadotropin
      • IGF-1
      • Infectious mononucleosis screen
      • Immunoglobulins
      • Immunophenotyping
      • Immunoreactive trypsin
      • Influenza tests
      • Inhibin
      • INR
      • Insulin
      • Ionized calcium
      • iron
      • Iron studies
      • Iron
      • IRT
      • JAK2 mutation
      • Kidney Stone Analysis
      • Lactate
      • Lactate dehydrogenase (LD)
      • Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
      • LDL cholesterol
      • LDL cholesterol, direct
      • Lead
      • LFT
      • Luteinising hormone (LH)
      • Lipase
      • Lipids
      • Lipids
      • Lipoprotein electrophoresis
      • Lithium
      • Liver function tests
      • Liver panel
      • Lipoprotein (a)
      • Lupus anticoagulant
      • Lyme disease serology
      • Magnesium
      • Maternal screening
      • MCH
      • MCHC
      • MCV
      • Measles and Mumps tests
      • Mercury
      • Metanephrines
      • Microalbumin
      • Microarray test
      • Microsatellite instability (MSI)
      • MPL Mutation
      • Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening
      • MTHFR Mutation
      • Mycophenylate
      • Mycoplasma
      • Myoglobin
      • Nicotine / cotinine
      • NIPT - non-invasive prenatal testing
      • Ova, Cysts and Parasites
      • Oestradiol
      • Organic acids
      • Osmolality
      • Ova & parasites
      • HIV p24 Ag
      • pap
      • Pap smear
      • PAPP-A
      • Paracetamol
      • Parathyroid hormone
      • Parvovirus B19
      • PDGFRA-FIP1L1 gene rearrangement
      • Pericardial fluid analysis
      • Peritoneal fluid analysis
      • Bordetella pertussis
      • Pharmacogenomic Tests
      • Phenobarbital
      • Phenobarb
      • Phenytoin
      • Phosphate
      • Phosphorus
      • Plasma free metanephrine
      • Platelet count
      • Platelet function test
      • Pleural fluid analysis
      • PMP22 Gene
      • Porphyrins
      • Potassium
      • Prealbumin
      • Pregnancy test
      • Progesterone
      • Prolactin
      • Protein and immunofixation electrophoresis
      • Protein C and Protein S
      • Prothrombin time
      • Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
      • PSEN1
      • PT
      • PTH
      • RAS gene mutation
      • RAST
      • RBC
      • RDW
      • Red blood cell count
      • Red cell antibody screen
      • Red cell indices
      • Renin
      • RET Gene
      • Reticulocyte count
      • Rheumatoid factor
      • Rickettsial diseases testing
      • Ross River virus testing
      • RSV
      • Rubella virus test
      • Salicylate
      • Semen analysis
      • Serotonin whole blood
      • Mesothelin
      • Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG)
      • Sickle cell
      • Sirolimus
      • Smooth muscle Ab
      • SMRP
      • Sodium
      • Sputum Culture
      • Stool Culture
      • Strep throat testing
      • Susceptibility testing
      • Sweat chloride
      • Sweat Chloride Test
      • Synacthen Test
      • Synovial fluid
      • Syphilis serology
      • T3
      • T4
      • Table of coagulation factors
      • Tacrolimus
      • Tuberculosis screening tests
      • T-Cell Receptor Gene Rearrangement
        • More details on T-cells
      • Test Not Listed?
      • Testosterone
      • Therapeutic drug monitoring
      • Thyroglobulin
      • Thyroid antibodies
      • Thyroid function test
      • Transferrin and TIBC
      • TORCH test
      • Total protein
      • Toxoplasma gondii
      • tp
      • Thiopurine methyltransferase
      • Transferrin
      • Trichomonas vaginalis detection
      • Triglycerides (fasting or random)
      • Troponin (I or T)
      • Trypsin faeces
      • Trypsinogen
      • Tryptase
      • Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
      • Tumor markers
      • Tumour markers
      • U&E
      • Unvalidated tests
      • Urea
      • Uric acid
      • Urinalysis
      • Albumin/creatinine ratio urine
      • Urine culture
      • Urine M/C/S
      • Metanephrine urine 24h
      • Protein urine
      • Valproate
      • Vancomycin
      • VHL Gene Mutation
      • Vitamin B12 and folate
      • Vitamin D 25 OH
      • von Willebrand Factor
      • White blood cell count
      • Whole Genome or Whole Exome Testing For Childhood Syndromes
      • Zinc protoporphyrin
    • Conditions / diseases
      • Acidosis and alkalosis
      • Adrenal insufficiency and Addison's disease
      • Alcoholism
      • Allergies
      • Alzheimer's disease
      • Buruli or Bairnsdale ulcer, Mycobacterium ulcerans
      • Anaemia
      • Angina pectoris
      • Ankylosing spondylitis
      • Anthrax
      • Antiphospholipid Syndrome
      • Arthritis
      • Asthma
      • Autoimmune disorders
      • Barmah Forest virus
      • Benign prostatic hypertrophy
      • Bleeding disorders
      • Bone marrow disorders
      • Bowel cancer
      • Breast cancer
      • Cardiovascular disease (CVD)
      • Cervical cancer
      • Chlamydia
      • Chronic fatigue syndrome
      • Coeliac disease
      • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
      • Congestive heart failure
      • Conn's syndrome
      • COVID-19
      • Cushing's syndrome
      • Cystic fibrosis
      • Diabetes
      • Diarrhoea
      • Diseases of the pancreas
      • Down syndrome
      • Endocrine system and syndromes
      • Epilepsy
      • Fibromyalgia
      • Fragile X syndrome
      • Fungal Infections
      • Gallstones
      • Genetic conditions
      • Gonorrhoea
      • Gout
      • Graves' disease
      • Guillain-Barré syndrome
      • Haemochromatosis
      • Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
      • Heart attack
      • Heart disease
      • Hepatitis
      • Herpes
      • High blood pressure
      • HIV
      • HPV
      • HTLV
      • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
      • Huntington's disease
      • Hypercoagulable disorders
      • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
      • Hyperthyroidism
      • Hypothyroidism
      • Infertility
      • Inflammatory bowel diseases
      • Influenza
      • Insulin resistance
      • Jaundice
      • Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
      • Kidney and urinary tract: function, disorders and diseases
      • Lead poisoning
      • Leukaemia
      • Liver disease
      • Lung diseases
      • Lupus
      • Lyme disease
      • Lymphoma
      • Malabsorption
      • Malaria
      • Malnutrition
      • Medullary thyroid carcinoma
      • Meningitis and encephalitis
      • Menopause
      • Metabolic syndrome
      • Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndromes
      • Multiple myeloma
      • Multiple sclerosis
      • Myasthenia Gravis
      • Myeloproliferative neoplasms
      • Neural tube defects
      • Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
      • Osteoarthritis
      • Osteoporosis
      • Ovarian cancer
      • Pancreatic cancer
      • Pancreatic diseases
      • Pancreatic insufficiency
      • Pancreatitis
      • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
      • Peptic ulcer
      • Pituitary disorders
      • Polycystic ovarian syndrome
      • Porphyria
      • Pregnancy
      • Prostate cancer
      • Proteinuria
      • Q fever
      • Reactive arthritis
      • Reiter's syndrome
      • Rheumatoid arthritis
      • Rickettsial Diseases in Australia
      • Ross River fever
      • Progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS)
      • Sarcoidosis
      • Scleroderma
      • Sepsis
      • Septic arthritis
      • Sexually transmitted infections
      • Sickle cell anaemia
      • Sjogren
      • Sjogren Syndrome
      • Skin Cancer
      • SLE
      • Staph wound infections and MRSA
      • STIs or STDs
      • Stroke
      • Suxamethonium apnoea
      • Syphilis
      • Systemic lupus erythematosus
      • Testicular cancer
      • Thalassaemia
      • Thyroid diseases
      • Transgender Transition Testing
      • Travellers' Diseases
      • Trichomonas
      • Tuberculosis
      • Urinary tract infection (UTI)
      • Vasculitis
      • Viral hepatitis
      • Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency
      • West Nile virus
      • Wilson disease
      • Wound and skin infections
    • Health checks
      • Screening tests for newborns
      • Screening tests for infants
      • Screening tests for children
      • Screening tests for teens (ages 13-18)
      • Screening tests for young adults
      • Screening tests for adults
      • Screening tests for adults: 50 and over
      • Pregnancy & prenatal testing
    • Point-of-Care Testing (PoCT)
      • Point-of-Care Testing (PoCT)
    • Glossary
    • Video Library
  • About us
    • About us
    • How to find what you’re looking for
    • Australian editorial group
    • Governance
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Credits
  • Sitemap
35,000 Australians work in pathology. Find out how they're saving lives

Our Supporters

Consumer Health Forum of AustraliaHealth DirectKnow PathologyChoosing WiselyNPS Medicine WiseYour Health Link

© 2023 Pathology Tests Explained

Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Facebook YouTube
Glossary | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Site Credits | Sitemap
Postal Address

PO Box 7336, 5/85 Bourke Rd, Alexandria, NSW 2015