PathWest provides diagnostic services across the full range of pathology disciplines.

We meet the health needs of the Western Australian community, serving both metropolitan and regional WA. This is a massive undertaking to more than 1.8 million West Australians, across more than 2.5 million square kilometres of land area.

We achieve this through a network of over 50 branch laboratories and collection centres from as far north as Kununnurra through to Esperance in the south, reliant on a comprehensive courier system.

We invite you to browse through our Divisions to learn more about PathWest's services. If you've got any questions please feel free to Contact Us.

Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Division of Tissue Pathology

Division of Branch Laboratories

Division of Clinical Pathology

The Division of Clinical Pathology provides clinical diagnostic and consultative services in Biochemistry, Haematology, Immunology and Pharmacology and Toxicology. Our very extensive repertoire of pathology tests from the simplest to the most complex is constantly being reviewed and updated. Rapid turnaround times and expert consultations and reports are hallmarks of our pathology services.

Biochemistry - highly automated testing for general chemistry, myocardial infarction, blood gas analysis, hormone testing, tumour markers, specialised protein testing, nutritional and toxic metals, diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes, vitamin analysis, metabolic bone disorders investigations and molecular biology (eg haemochromatosis, antitrypsin deficiency, etc).

Haematology - full blood picture, bone marrow examination, coagulation (including thrombophilia and coagulopathy), iron studies, flow cytometric diagnosis of haematological malignancies, transfusion medicine (including blood grouping and antobody screening and identification), malaria diagnosis and speciation, haemoglobin abnormalities, HLA B-27, lymphocyte subsets and molecular biology testing (eg thalassaemia).

Immunology - all autoimmune diagnostic testing, biospy analysis, allergy testing.

Pharmacology & Toxicology - therapeutic drug monitoring for all classes of drugs (antibiotics, immunosuppressants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, antineoplastics, etc), drug overdoses and AS 4308 accredited drugs of abuse testing in the workplace.

Endocrinology
PathWest offers a full range of endocrine tests including specialised areas as listed below. We are available for advice on the use and interpretation of these tests.
Aldosterone, Renin, Aldosterone/Renin ratio, Genetic test for Familial Hyperaldosteronism Type I, Saline suppression test for Conn's, Cushings/Adrenal Insufficiency, Cortisol, Extracted urinary free cortisol, ACTH, Synacthen test/Dexamethasone suppression test, Calcium Metabolism, Ionised calcium, Parathyroid function testing, Vitamin D, Fasting metabolic bone study, Carcinoid and Serotonin

Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

The Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases provides a range of clinical and diagnostic services. It is at the forefront of developing new tests that will expand the range of organisms detectable and improve test efficiency and turn-around-time, in areas such as Virology, Bacteriology, Mycology and environmental microbiology.

The Division has NATA Accreditation for its constituent laboratories. NATA Medical assessed the clinical laboratory in May 2001 and we are accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 (1999) standards. NATA Biological assessed the Waters Laboratory in October 2001 and the Foods Laboratory in November 2001 and both areas meet all the standards to ISO/IEC 17025. In addition, the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) regularly inspects the Division, to assess the continuation of the Division's culture collection and import licence. We also have TGA accreditation to operate a Microbial Contamination Testing Laboratory.

Diagnostic and Clinical Services

Consultants in this Division provide advice within and outside the Metropolitan region.

Molecular Diagnostic and Tissue Culture Services

A wide range of diseases or diseases-causing agents is capable of being detected by such techniques as:

PCR

Automated Serology

Manual Serology

Clinical Bacteriology Services

The Clinical Bacteriology Division provides general bacteriology services to Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, King Edward Memorial and Princess Margaret Hospitals, private practitioners, and metropolitan Branch Laboratories, and also provides assistance to the country Branch Laboratories in their drive to achieve NATA accreditation

Mycobacteriology

The Mycobacteria Laboratory provides rapid direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from a range of tissue types. This service compliments the most up-to-date automated culture-detection practices. Susceptibility testing of M. tuberculosis is also performed by this rapid method. Sequenced-based identification of atypical mycobacteria is now a routine procedure, considerably improved turn-around times and accuracy. The laboratory is a member of the Mycobacteria Reference Laboratory Network.

Mycology

This section provides a traditional microscopy and culture-based diagnostic service. In addition, some molecular methods have been developed such as the identification of Nocardia by sequencing. Reporting practices in routine superficial mycoses are continually reviewed to include a range of comments relevant to current medical opinion in the area.

Enteric

The section has involvement with OzFoodNet, a nationally sponsored program aimed at developing better epidemiological information on some common food-borne pathogens, with particular emphasis on Campylobacter and Salmonella

Foods and Waters

Our Foods and Waters laboratory tests for a wide range of micro-organisms of public health interest, using a variety of state-of-the-art techniques. As part of our NATA assessment in November 2001 to ISO/IEC 17025 standards, the detection of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes by PCR was added to our registration and we were the first food-testing laboratory in the State to gain accreditation for PCR detection of pathogens. The laboratory is regularly involved in outbreak investigations in association with the State Health Department of Environmental Health and Communicable Diseases. Apart from screening for pathogens, samples such as milk are examined for antibiotic residues.

The Waters Laboratory plays a vital role in ensuring the quality of WA's potable water. Its participates in the national Co-operative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment, as well as other proficiency programs, has led to performance at a level acceptable for NATA accreditation.

Molecular Typing

This section of the laboratory has developed over the last several years from the Division's Research and Development focus on molecular typing. Over that time, many typing methods and typing algorithms have been developed and the range of molecular typing approaches now includes pulse field gel electrophoresis, ribotyping and sequencing. These are used in conjunction with complementary phenotypic methods used in other parts of the laboratory, including serotyping and gas chromatography for whole-cell fatty acids. Sophisticated software is used with these typing methods and, for instance, the BioNumerics software package has been used in a national case-controlled study of Campylobacter infections coordinated by OzFoodNet.

Surveillance of Communicable Diseases

• Influenza surveillance for the Department of Health Western Australia as well as sentinel general practices throughout the Metropolitan area
  
• Arbovirus surveillance, in collaboration with the Arbovirus Research and Surveillance Group and Department of Health monitor MVE, Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus infections.
  
• Epidemiology of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and its relationship to cardiovascular disease
  
• Epidemiology and pathogenesis of melioidosis, in collaboration with the Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin and Townsville General Hospital.
  
• For a more comprehensive range of tests refer to the PathWest Specimen Collection Manual.

Division of Tissue Pathology

The Division of Tissue Pathology at PathWest provides diagnostic and clinical services in the field of Anatomical Pathology (Diagnostic Histopathology, Cytology, Electron Microscopy, Molecular Pathology and non-coronial post-mortem examination) and specialist Forensic Services (Forensic Pathology and Forensic Biology) for the community of Western Australia.

ANATOMICAL PATHOLOGY

Anatomical Pathology provides a wide range of diagnostic testing reflecting the service commitment to Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, King Edward Memorial and Princess Margaret Hospitals, private practitioners, and metropolitan Branch Laboratories.

Anatomical Pathology has dedicated and supportive staff including clinical and scientific specialists. Expert pathologists provide diagnostic and clinical services in the fields of Histopathology, Cytology, Electron Microscopy, Molecular Pathology and Non-Coronial Post-Mortem examination. The clinical staff, together with the team of Medical Scientists and support staff within each testing discipline, are also committed to research and teaching in pathology. The research commitment is demonstrated through numerous collaborations with clinical and scientific research projects while the commitment to teaching is evidenced by training provided to six Anatomical Pathology registrars enrolled in the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) training program. The staff of Anatomical Pathology also provide undergraduate and post-graduate teaching services to numerous institutions throughout the State including the University of Western Australia 's Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.

Anatomical Pathology provides a full range of diagnostic services for which test turn around times are of paramount importance. Diagnostic reports are provided to clients according to individual requirements, including various modes of electronic report transmission to maximise timely report delivery. Anatomical Pathology also provides services for numerous formally registered clinical trial projects and provides specialist opinions on diagnostic cases referred from other pathology providers.

Excellence within the field of Diagnostic Histopathology and Cytology at PathWest is sustained by the largest antibody register for diagnostic immunohistochemical testing in Western Australia and by the specialist testing areas of Electron Microscopy and Molecular Pathology.

The Electron Microscopy section provides ultrastructural analysis for neoplastic and non-neoplastic case referrals from within and outside PathWest utilising sophisticated equipment including transmission and scanning electron microscopes, energy dispersive analysis of X-rays for elemental microanalysis (including asbestos fibre identification and quantitation) and ultrastructural immunolabelling techniques.

The Molecular Pathology section provides a specialist ancillary diagnostic service for the investigation and classification of lymphoma and lymphoid leukemia. Tests include DNA analysis using a panel of polymerase chain reactions (PCR) or Southern Blot analysis to assess B or T cell clonality and lymphoma-associated chromosomal translocations. An in-situ hybridization assay for Epstein Barr virus latent infection is also available.

The Cytology section provides testing for gynaecological specimens including conventional and liquid base samples and HPV/DNA testing. PathWest Cytology has special interest in respiratory cytology, effusion cytology and all aspects of fine needle aspiration cytology including the provision of a fine needle aspiration service to sites throughout the metropolitan area. Diagnostic Histopathology and Cytology provide a coordinated diagnostic service to BreastScreen WA.

FORENSIC SCIENCES

Forensic Services at PathWest comprise the Forensic Pathology section (incorporating the State Mortuary) and Forensic Biology section. Forensic Pathology and Forensic Biology provide specialist services to two respective major clients- The Office of the State Coroner of Western Australia and the Western Australian Police Service.

Forensic Pathology

The team of Forensic Pathologists at PathWest perform post-mortem examination for coronial admissions to the State Mortuary. The Forensic Pathologists together with the Anthropologist, Odontologist, Mortuary personnel and scientific and support staff provide high calibre Forensic Pathology services for the community of Western Australia . In addition to providing reports on findings to the Office of the State Coroner Western Australia , the Forensic Pathology section interacts with agencies including DonateWest and the Western Australian Police Services. The team at Forensic Pathology are skilled with respect to procedures for Disaster Victim Identification and identification of skeletal remains.

Forensic Biology

The Forensic Biology section performs specialist biological analyses on forensic items predominantly referred from the Western Australian Police Service. Forensic Biology performs DNA analyses on items referred from crime scenes and from person (intelligence) samples collected by the Western Australian Police Services. The DNA profiles are added to the Western Australian DNA database established in 2002 in accordance with the Criminal Investigation (Identifying People) Act 2002. The team of forensic scientists at PathWest specialise in biological analyses on forensic items in accordance with NATA requirements.

Division of Branch Laboratories

The Division of Branch Laboratories has a network of laboratories and collection centres that provide pathology services across metropolitan and rural Western Australia . The laboratories provide on-site routine diagnostic services in haematology, transfusion medicine, biochemistry and microbiology, and refer more complex tests to the central PathWest laboratories in Perth.

Hospitals and communities throughout the State are provided with pathology services 24 hours a day. The Branch Laboratory system also assists communities in non-diagnostic services such as workplace drug testing, environmental samples, surveys, clinical trials and research. They also provide the local communities with workplace experience for students of schools, colleges and universities. The Branch Laboratories are often involved in school health education programs, give talks to community groups and when required, formally teach in TAFE Colleges and Universities. They are also regularly involved with the pathology aspects of education and training of community and remote nurses.
Branch Laboratories can arrange clinical consultation with pathologists covering the full range of disciplines.